The social service department of CCC&TSPM released an intercession letter for the earthquakes that occurred in Southwest China’s Sichuan Province on September 5.
The letter said China Earthquake Networks Center determined that an earthquake of magnitude 6.8 hit Luding County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan (29.59 degrees north latitude, 102.08 degrees east longitude) at 12:52 on September 05, with a focal depth of 16 kilometers. The earthquake was felt in a wide range in the Sichuan Province with strong intensity. Tremors were also felt in Chongqing, Yunnan Province, Shaanxi Province, and Guizhou Province. Netizens said buildings were damaged, walls were cracked, and furniture was displaced near the epicenter.
As of 9 pm Wednesday, together with another 6.6 magnitude earthquake in Ya’an City, a total of 74 people were killed (40 in the Garze prefecture and 34 in Ya’an), 35 people were missing, with 89 people injured, People’s Daily reported.
After the earthquake, the Sichuan Earthquake Administration immediately launched the level II earthquake emergency response. At the same time, the local earthquake prevention and disaster reduction work department and the earthquake monitoring station were assigned to investigate and verify the seismic conditions and cooperate with the local government for earthquake relief.
The Sichuan Earthquake Administration reminded people near the epicenter not to return to their rooms immediately and pay attention to strong aftershocks, landslides, and rolling stones.
Enduring high temperatures and power shortages, people who stayed at home to curb the spread of COVID-19 were suffering the effects of the earthquake, the letter added.
In the end, the social service department of CCC&TSPM called Christians to pray for rescuers, people in the earthquake area, and the smooth progress of the earthquake relief work.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
