Insights

19 killed, 247 injured and 130,000 homes damaged

The Chinese government has reported that at least 19 people, including six tourists, have been killed and 247 injured, after an earthquake measuring 7.9 shook a mountainous region near Jiuzhaigou nature reserve. The earthquake struck a region bordered by the provinces of Sichuan and Gansu and hit a sparsely populated area 200 km northwest of the city of Guangyuan late on Tuesday night. A separate quake with a magnitude of 6.6 struck a remote part of China's far northwestern region of Xinjiang, more than 2,000 km away, on Wednesday morning. 31,500 tourists have been evacuated from the quake zone, with more than 130,000 houses reportedly damaged.

Those operating or residing in China's Sichuan province are advised to anticipate further destabilising aftershocks affecting the region over the next 24-48 hours. If caught in an earthquake, take cover under a heavy desk or table. The extent of any possible damage is currently unknown, although the earthquake is expected to have a high humanitarian impact based on the magnitude, the affected population and their vulnerability. Expect the associated disruptions and possible damage as a result. Follow local media for more information and remain vigilant.