Summary

  • At least 105 people have been killed and more than 250 injured in the 6.2 magnitude quake that struck rural Gansu province in north-west China

  • Another 13 people have died in neighbouring Qinghai with 182 people also injured there

  • Rescuers are braving freezing weather - with temperatures below -13C - to search for survivors

  • Officials say that the sub zero temperatures mean that the 'golden window' to find survivors is shorter than usual

  • More than 5,000 houses have been damaged, as have roads as well as power and water supplies, all of which are hampering rescue efforts

  • The government has dispatched teams of rescue workers to assist local emergency crews

  • China's leader Xi Jinping has ordered full rescue efforts

  1. Watch: Streets littered with debris after China quakepublished at 03:06 GMT 19 December 2023

    Footage shared by China's state media broadcaster CCTV showed buildings cracked and debris strewn through the streets in Jishishan County.

    Rescuers are combing through the rubble to search for survivors.

    Media caption,

    Watch: Streets littered with debris after China quake

  2. Death toll from Gansu quake hits 116 - authoritiespublished at 02:59 GMT 19 December 2023

    The death toll from the Gansu earthquake has increased to 116, according to local authorities.

    State media reported that 105 died in Gansu, with 11 deaths in neighbouring Qinghai province.

    Officials in Jishishan county, the worst hit in Gansu, said at a press conference on Tuesday morning that some 186 people have been injured, with 4,782 houses damaged.

    Thousands of rescue workers have been deployed. Officials asked the public not to approach the disaster scene, so as to leave roads clear for rescue teams.

    Authorities also warned that more aftershocks may occur, after 10 aftershocks were recorded in the quake-prone Tibetan Plateau.

  3. Welcome to our live coveragepublished at 02:55 GMT 19 December 2023

    Yvette Tan
    BBC News

    Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the earthquake that struck northwestern China in the early hours of the morning.

    • More than 100 people have died and hundreds left injured - with the death toll potentially set to rise as rescuers continue searching through the rubble for survivors
    • The 6.2 magnitude quake has also knocked out water and electricity in some parts of Gansu province
    • Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered full rescue efforts to Gansu, one of China's poorest regions
    • A second quake struck neighbouring Xinjiang hours later on Tuesday

    Stay with us as we bring you the latest updates on this developing story.