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Sichuan Province Earthquake

On September 16, 2021, an earthquake struck China’s Sichuan province, an area known for its high risk of earthquakes. The epicenter of the earthquake was around 120 miles away from Chengdu, the capital of the province. The quake began at around 4:33 AM at a depth only 6 miles below the surface of the earth. Although much of the southwest Sichuan province was affected, Luxian county in the city of Luzhou was hit the hardest and suffered the most damage. The earthquake, measured at a magnitude of around 5.6 or 6, killed three people and injured at least sixty, three of them seriously.

The earthquake struck in the early hours of the morning, catching many people unawares. Although the tremors started small, bricks and panes of glass gradually began to fall. At one point, even walls themselves were collapsing, resulting in a total of around 1,200 destroyed houses. An additional 3,000 were severely damaged. The earthquake also wrecked roads, resulting in traffic being rerouted. Power lines were disrupted, and thousands of people were left without access to electricity or communication. More than 76,000 citizens were forced to evacuate into tents set up around a village. Temporary shelters were also established, totaling around 79 sanctuaries.

In response to this earthquake, rescue workers traveled in the pouring rain to collapsed houses to check if the residents needed help. Workers also distributed food, including moon cakes, to those affected. Sichuan’s relief headquarters issued a level two response within China’s four-tier response system. Luzhou city issued a level one response, the highest and most severe possible. Climbing towering ladders, workers braved the heights to remove dangerous pieces of debris, such as panes of glass. Soldiers and other workers were deployed to help, carrying around medical kits and other supplies.

This earthquake is tragic, but it isn’t shocking. The Sichuan province in China is known for its frequent earthquakes, and the citizens living there live in constant fear of them. Various people living in separate parts of the world have natural disasters to manage, but we can still help by donating. The international charities listed below help people affected by natural disasters everywhere, not just those affected by China’s most recent earthquake.


Charities

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