Nearly 5,000 homes were destroyed and damaged by the earthquake in China

High numbers of deaths, destruction

and damage to nearly 5 thousand homes caused

by the earthquake in China

The death toll rose from 116 to 118 from the earthquake in northwest China

and the earthquake destroyed or damaged nearly 5 thousand homes.

The earthquake was felt by the administration centre of the city of Lancho

and a number of other villages, according to the provincial government's website.

 At the centre of the earthquak

 were the autonomous regions of

Jichichan-Bauan-Dongxiang

Salar province in the autonomous state of Linchea

Hui, 105 people were killed

186 were injured, 4,782 homes were destroyed

and damaged. In neighbouring Qinghai province, 13 people

were killed and 20 others were considered missing.

Rescuers, firefighters, police officers and doctors were sent to

the destroyed village of Yugoslavia and surrounding villages, units of

the Chinese People's Liberation Army and formations of

the Armed People's Police (similar to the internal forces)

were involved, and work was organized for the urgent delivery of essential items

including tents, folding beds, blankets and portable stoves.

Search and rescue operations are complicated by high mountain conditions

and at night at the time of the earthquake

the temperature outside dropped to minus 14 degrees.

In the next 10 days, the temperature in the earthquake area could rise to

5 degrees during the day, dropping to minus zero 14 at night.

The average height in the mountain region

where the earthquake occurred is 2,000 metres above sea level.