Abstract: According to the China Earthquake Networks Center, at 21:21:46 on the 10th day, a 4.7-magnitude earthquake occurred at the junction of Rongchang County in Chongqing, Longchang County in Neijiang City of Sichuan Province, and Luxian County in Luzhou City. Some areas in the main urban area of Chongqing, Yongchuan, and Dazu had obvious tremors.
Yesterday, an old house collapsed in Laodianzi Community, Longji Town, Rongchang County. Photo by reporter Li Bin.
Xinhua News Agency, Chongqing (reporter Yi Yongjun, intern reporter Wen Bin) According to the China Earthquake Networks Center, at 21:21:46 on the 10th day, a 4.7-magnitude earthquake occurred at the junction of Rongchang County in Chongqing, Longchang County in Neijiang City of Sichuan Province, and Luxian County in Luzhou City. Some areas in the main urban area of Chongqing, Yongchuan, and Dazu had obvious tremors.
The Rongchang County government has established an emergency relief office. According to the latest statistics from the duty room: as of 3 p.m. yesterday, the earthquake caused the collapse of 27 houses in Rongchang County and damaged 61 houses. There were no reports of casualties so far, and the specific losses are still being further counted.
Shaken from one side of the bed to the other
"At that time, I was lying on the bed, then the bed started shaking, and I was shaken from one side of the bed to the other." Zhong Xiangxiu, a villager of Longji Village, Longji Town, Rongchang County, recalled the situation when the earthquake occurred, "Then I heard a 'whoosh' sound, it seemed like tiles fell off outside the house. We were all scared and didn't dare to go out and look."
Chen Qichun's home is located in the Old Street of Yangguang Community, Fenggao Street, Rongchang County. She is 53 years old. "This street could be said to be the symbol of the whole Fenggao Town (later changed to the street) back then. It was the most prosperous street in this area, with a history of more than 100 years. Later, during the old city renovation, this place became the old street." Chen Qichun said that almost all the people on the entire old street have moved away, leaving only six or seven households, and she is one of them.
Most of the houses on the old street are wooden structures, with wooden pillars and beams supporting the houses. "When we felt the earthquake coming, we all ran outside, fearing the house was not sturdy enough," Chen Qichun said.
Most of the damaged houses are old houses
After the earthquake occurred, the Rongchang County government quickly activated the earthquake emergency response plan and promptly organized forces to investigate potential dangers. "On the night of the earthquake, two families' houses were in relatively dangerous conditions and were urgently transferred to their relatives' homes by the staff," a staff member of the Rongchang County government introduced. Fifteen minutes after the earthquake occurred, the Rongchang County Seismological Bureau monitored that the epicenter position was approximately in Yujian Town, Longchang County, and immediately organized personnel to rush to Yujian to investigate the situation.
Director Li of the Rongchang County Seismological Bureau introduced that most of the houses damaged this time were old houses that had not been repaired for a long time, and many of them were already unoccupied. Therefore, the damage situation was not serious.
"This also benefits from our rural dilapidated housing renovation project implemented since 2009. Every year, we conduct strict routine inspections of about six to seven times to check for potential dangers in the houses. From last year to this year, we have completed the renovation of more than 4,000 dilapidated houses," Director Li said.
No possibility of a larger earthquake
According to the latest news from the Chongqing Seismological Bureau: currently, there is no possibility of a larger earthquake occurring in Rongchang County, but there is a possibility of a perceptible earthquake.
Expert Li Kechang from the Seismological Bureau said that in the past 100 years from 1856 to now, our city has experienced several earthquakes, but the highest magnitude was basically around 5. From the structural perspective, strong earthquakes are unlikely to occur in Chongqing.
In addition, the Emergency Office of Neijiang City, Sichuan Province, introduced that as of 8 a.m. on September 11, due to the earthquake, 26 houses collapsed and 116 were damaged in Longchang County, Neijiang City. A total of 123 people were urgently relocated and resettled, with no casualties reported.
The Emergency Office of Luxian County, Luzhou City, Sichuan Province, introduced that in Jiaming Town, four unoccupied houses collapsed, and more than 20 houses were cracked, with no casualties reported.