Strong earthquake hit China

(Patria) - A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck a sparsely populated area in western China last night, causing a halt in railway traffic due to tunnel damage, authorities announced.

Four people with minor injuries were released home after receiving medical attention, officials said at a press conference.

The earthquake struck at 1:45 AM local time in a mountainous part of Qinghai province, located at an altitude of 3,659 meters.

The epicenter was 140 kilometers southeast of Xining, the provincial capital, where people fled their homes in fear.

Footage from China's state news service showed damage to houses, broken windows, and collapsed ceilings.
Rescue and fire teams in Qinghai and the neighboring province have dispatched about 500 rescuers to the epicenter, the Chinese Ministry of Emergency Management announced.

Another 2,260 rescuers from neighboring provinces are on standby.

The ministry and the China Earthquake Administration have sent a team to Qinghai to assess the situation and evacuate residents of the affected areas.

(N1)