China: Disruptions ongoing in Sichuan Province as of Sept. 6 following magnitude-6.6 earthquake Sept. 5 /update 2

Event

Disruptions are ongoing across parts of Sichuan Province as of Sept. 6 following a magnitude-6.6 earthquake that struck the region the previous day. The majority of the casualties and damage have occurred near the epicenter of the earthquake in Luding County. Authorities have reported at least 65 fatalities and nearly 250 people have been treated for injuries as of Sept. 6. At least 17 people died in the city of Ya'an, while 29 deaths were reported in the neighboring prefecture of Ganzi. At least 12 people are still missing and hundreds of people have been cut off by damage to roads due to landslides and disruptions to communication lines. Nearly 250 homes have collapsed and over 13,000 have been partially damaged near the epicenter. Power outages and water supply disruptions have also been reported in the affected area. It could take several days until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas.

The magnitude-6.6 earthquake occurred at around 12:52 Sept. 5 and the epicenter was located around 43 km (27 miles) southeast of Kangding. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles), and very strong shaking was probably felt near the epicenter, with moderate-to-strong shaking in areas further from the epicenter. Residents in the provincial capital Chengdu and further east in Chongqing Municipality reported shaking in buildings due to the tremor. Shaking was also felt in parts of Guizhou and Shaanxi provinces. Several aftershocks have occurred in the area as of Sept. 6 and further aftershocks are likely over the coming days.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Plan accordingly for aftershocks. Consider vacating multistory buildings if operating in affected areas until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Allow additional time for air and road travel, as aftershocks may prompt brief disruptions. Seek updated information on road conditions before driving in hilly areas in the affected region due to potential landslides.