Deadly Earthquake in a Tourist Area in China

A 6.5 magnitude earthquake has shaken an area near Jiuzhaigou National Park in southwestern China. This region in Sichuan province is filled with tourists. According to reports, at least 13 people have died, and more than 160 have been injured. Simultaneously, local authorities have reported the evacuation of nearly 32,000 tourists to safe areas, with at least dozens of them trapped due to landslides and damage caused by the earthquake. The initial earthquake occurred 200 kilometers from the city of Guangyuan, at a depth of 10 kilometers. Although the area itself is not very populated, its proximity to the Jiuzhaigou nature reserve has raised concerns about casualties and human damage. After the initial earthquake, at least 400 aftershocks have occurred, one of which was 6.5 magnitude and struck hours later near the border of China and Kazakhstan. The Sichuan government states that at least 100 tourists who were in Jiuzhaigou and its surroundings are trapped due to landslides caused by the initial earthquake. Reports indicate that nearly 31,500 other tourists have been evacuated to safe areas. More than half of the current casualties are tourists. Some tourists are also trapped in one of the damaged hotels, with the Chinese fire department stating that 2,800 other tourists have been evacuated from this hotel. The identity and nationality of the tourists who have died or are trapped have not yet been determined. The Jiuzhaigou Valley and its protected areas are typically visited by Chinese citizens. However, currently, in the midst of summer, there is a high likelihood of foreign tourists being present as well. Major earthquakes in Sichuan province have a long history; for instance, during the Qing dynasty, an earthquake and dam failure resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths. In 2008, an 8.0 magnitude earthquake near the center of this province killed 70,000 people and left millions homeless.