A 5.5-MAGNITUDE earthquake hit Pingyuan County in East China’s Shandong Province early yesterday morning, injuring 21 people. The earthquake struck at 2:33 a.m. local time with a 10 km depth at the epicenter, according to China Earthquake Networks Center – a subsidiary of China Earthquake Administration. As of 7 a.m. yesterday, a total of 21 people have been injured in the earthquake that struck Pingyuan in Dezhou City. Beijing, over 300 km from the epicenter, felt tremors overnight, according to the Beijing Municipal Earthquake Bureau. A total of 126 buildings in the earthquake zone collapsed, while the transportation, communication and power supply there were normal, and no leak was discovered at oil and gas pipelines, according to local authorities. More than 20 trains to depart from Beijing, Tianjin, and Cangzhou were halted and some 30 trains by way of Shijiazhuang-Jinan high-speed railway were halted as well, according to the Beijing Bureau of China Railway. Local authorities have launched an emergency response to organize rescue and assess possible risks. To ensure train safety, the Jinan Railway Bureau has promptly initiated an emergency response, implementing measures to halt trains within its jurisdiction. It was conducting equipment inspections on the relevant routes yesterday, resulting in varying degrees of delays for trains passing through, as reported by the Global Times. The Beijing Bureau of China Railway has activated a level I emergency response, leading to the suspension of the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway, Beijing-Kowloon Railway, Shijike, and Shide lines. Additionally, they were organizing a comprehensive inspection of the equipment along these lines. In addition to Shandong, reports of tremors have also surfaced in Hebei, Tianjin, and other areas, with some places experiencing noticeable shaking. Many netizens claim to have been “awakened by the tremors.” According to the data recorded by the Beijing earthquake network, the highest intensity measured in Beijing is at level III on the seismic scale, specifically located in Tongzhou District. Most areas of the city felt the earthquake, but no damage has been reported thus far. Preliminary analysis suggests that the earthquake will not significantly affect short-term seismic activity in Beijing, and there are no apparent anomalies that could impact the capital city. Seconds before the earthquake struck, many residents in Beijing, Shandong, and nearby areas received early warning messages through their mobile phones and televisions. In recent years, China has intensified its early warning capabilities for earthquakes. Many residents have installed apps or programs on their mobile devices, which, in most cases, provide individuals with a few precious seconds to prepare or take emergency action. (SD-Xinhua) | 