China (Rajeev Sharma): A moderate but destructive earthquake shook China’s Guangxi region before dawn on Monday, leaving two people dead and triggering large-scale evacuations as rescue teams combed damaged areas for survivors.
The 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck near Liuzhou, rattling homes and sending frightened residents rushing into open spaces as several structures gave way under the force of the tremor.
Officials said over 7,000 people were evacuated from vulnerable locations as a precaution while emergency services launched immediate search and recovery operations.
State authorities confirmed two deaths and said one individual was still unaccounted for by late morning.
Four injured residents were shifted to nearby hospitals for medical care, with doctors reporting that none were in critical condition.
The earthquake caused at least 13 buildings to collapse, prompting fears that additional people may have been trapped beneath debris.
Specialised rescue units, including local disaster response personnel and firefighters, were dispatched to inspect damaged sites and assist affected families.
Railway authorities also initiated safety checks across key transport routes to examine whether rail tracks or support systems had been weakened by the shaking.
Officials cautioned commuters about possible delays as inspections continued across sections of the regional rail network.
Despite the structural damage, public utilities such as electricity, gas, telecommunications and water supply were reported to be functioning normally in most parts of the affected area.
Road traffic was also moving without major interruption, allowing rescue vehicles quick access to impacted neighbourhoods.
Eyewitnesses described the quake as sudden and intense, with residents awakened by strong vibrations and loud cracking sounds from nearby buildings.
Many remained outdoors for hours as engineers assessed whether residential complexes were safe for re-entry.
Southwestern China is prone to seismic activity due to active fault lines, and authorities are continuing to monitor the region for possible aftershocks.
Emergency teams remain on high alert as recovery efforts continue and structural inspections are carried out across affected districts.
