Earthquake hits south-west China; thousands evacuate, buildings collapse
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The 5.2-magnitude earthquake in China's south-west region of Guangxi killed two people, and one person is still missing.
PHOTO: REUTERS
BEIJING – A 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck south China’s Guangxi region on May 18, killing two people and causing 13 buildings to collapse, state media reported.
The quake hit Guangxi’s Liuzhou city at 12.21am, state news agency Xinhua said. The US Geological Survey recorded a lower magnitude of 5.0.
State broadcaster CCTV identified the deceased as a couple – a 63-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman.
A 91-year-old man who was missing earlier was found after search and rescue efforts, and sent to the hospital for treatment, CCTV added.
A video published by the broadcaster showed a team of rescue workers carrying the injured man onto a stretcher.
The authorities had evacuated over 7,000 people from the area, CCTV said.
Other videos from CCTV showed people fleeing high-rise buildings and piles of rubble next to destroyed homes.
Rescue workers were seen trudging through the debris, while their dogs tried to sniff out signs of life.
Emergency workers wearing helmets were also seen using earthmovers to clear the wreckage.
Earthquakes in China are relatively common.
In January 2025, a devastating quake in the remote Tibet region killed at least 126 people and damaged thousands of buildings. AFP
