5.2-magnitude quake jolts Guangxi, two dead and thousands evacuated

Earthquake in Liuzhou damages buildings, prompts mass evacuations and ongoing rescue operations

A 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region early Monday, killing two people, collapsing several buildings and forcing more than 7,000 residents in Liuzhou to evacuate, authorities said. Rescue teams continued searches in the hours after the tremor while officials inspected transport links and infrastructure for damage.

Immediate impact
According to provincial emergency management officials, the quake hit in the pre-dawn hours near Liuzhou city. Initial reports said 13 buildings collapsed and one person remained missing; four others were hospitalised with non-life-threatening injuries. Local news outlets said the two fatalities were confirmed late morning after search teams recovered victims from damaged structures.

Evacuations and shelter
More than 7,000 people were evacuated from the most affected neighbourhoods of Liuzhou, the city government said. Municipal authorities set up temporary shelters in community centres and schools, providing basic supplies and medical attention. Social media posts from residents in the area described panicked evacuations in the early hours, with families leaving homes barefoot and children clutching belongings.

Timeline and ground cues
Residents reported feeling strong shaking for several seconds around 3:30am local time, followed by aftershocks that kept people outdoors for hours. “My apartment shook so hard the lights went out,” a local resident told state media. Emergency services said aftershock activity continued through the morning, complicating rescue work and inspections of unstable buildings.

Infrastructure checks
Railway and transport officials dispatched inspection teams to check tracks and bridges on key routes serving Liuzhou. Authorities warned of possible delays as lines were examined, though state reporting added that power, water, gas and major road links were functioning normally in most parts of the city. Telecommunications providers reported largely intact mobile and landline services, helping coordinate relief.

Rescue operations
Search-and-rescue teams from Liuzhou and neighbouring prefectures were mobilised, with heavy machinery brought in to clear rubble where collapses occurred. Local hospitals activated emergency protocols to treat those injured, while volunteer groups delivered blankets and food to shelters. Officials cautioned residents to avoid damaged areas to let responders work and to follow directives from emergency personnel.

Official response and statements
Provincial authorities convened an emergency meeting early on Monday to coordinate relief and damage assessment. “Rescue operations are ongoing,” a provincial emergency management spokesperson said in a brief statement carried by state media. No detailed cause was provided beyond standard geological explanations; seismological agencies said the quake was likely the result of shallow crustal fault movement common to the region.

Background on seismic risk
Guangxi is not among China’s most seismically active provinces, but earthquakes do occur periodically in southern China due to complex interactions between tectonic blocks. Seismologists say shallow, moderate-magnitude quakes can still cause substantial local damage if they strike populated areas with vulnerable buildings. The China Earthquake Networks Center usually issues rapid assessments after such events to guide relief.

Public safety and precautions
Local authorities urged residents to stay calm, avoid entering structurally compromised buildings and follow official evacuation routes. Hospitals posted advisories for non-critical patients to defer visits where possible to keep capacity for trauma care. Schools in the worst-hit districts were closed for inspections, with decisions on reopening to be made after structural checks.

What happens next
Teams are conducting a fuller damage assessment and compiling lists of displaced residents needing longer-term shelter. Railway inspections will determine whether any services must be suspended or speed-restricted for safety. Seismologists will monitor aftershocks and release updates as data comes in.

The quake’s human toll and disruption underline the challenges cities face when moderate seismic events strike built-up areas. For now, relief and search operations remain the priority as authorities work to account for the missing and stabilise damaged sites.

Anuppur Lodge Collapse: Third Body Found, Rs 9 Lakh Compensation

Three dead as three-storey building caves in near Kotma bus stand; rescue teams from Bhilai and Varanasi join operation.

The death toll in the Anuppur lodge collapse rose to three on Sunday morning as rescue personnel pulled out a woman’s body from the debris. The three-storey building in Kotma bus stand area had caved in on Saturday evening. Officials confirmed two earlier fatalities – Hanuman Deen Yadav (55) and Ram Kripal Yadav (40) – while three persons sustained injuries. The woman’s identity remains unknown.

Rescue Operations Continue

More than 100 personnel from NDRF, SDRF and local teams have been clearing the rubble for nearly 19 hours. Special rescue units from Bhilai and Varanasi reached the site on Sunday to assist. According to officials, the operation will continue until all debris is removed and any remaining trapped persons are accounted for.

Cause Under Investigation

Eyewitnesses said the building tilted towards an adjacent pit before collapsing. Preliminary findings indicate that a 12-feet-deep pit dug for construction work nearby had filled with water, possibly weakening the lodge’s foundation. A senior district official said a structural audit will be conducted once rescue work ends.

Case Registered Against Owners

Anuppur Superintendent of Police Motiur Rahman confirmed that a case has been filed at Kotma police station under BNS sections 290 and 106. The accused are land owner Rajeev Garg and lodge owner Lallu Lal Agrawal. Police said negligence in construction safety and failure to maintain the building’s stability are the primary grounds for the case.

Compensation Announced

Collector Harshal Pancholi announced on Sunday that the state government will provide Rs 9 lakh each to the families of the deceased. Injured persons will receive Rs 2.5 lakh each. “The compensation will be disbursed immediately after verification of documents,” the collector said, adding that medical expenses of the injured will also be borne by the administration.

Former MLA Raises Concerns

Former Kotma MLA Sunil Saraf expressed alarm over the incident, stating that several other buildings in the area face similar risks. “This is not an isolated case. Many structures here have been weakened by nearby excavation. The administration must take strict action to prevent a repeat,” he told reporters.

Market Shut for Safety

Local markets near the bus stand remained closed on Sunday due to the ongoing rescue and barricading. Residents pointed out that the casualty count could have been much higher had the market been open on Saturday. The lodge was undergoing repairs at the time, which kept footfall low, according to shopkeepers.

Search Teams Face Challenges

A 41-member NDRF team from Varanasi along with Bhilai’s rescue unit has been using dog squads and heavy machinery. However, the depth of the debris and the water-filled pit are hampering progress. “The dogs are returning repeatedly because of the unstable ground. We are removing debris in layers,” a rescue official said. CCTV footage of the collapse is being reviewed to trace any other missing persons.

Officials have assured that a full inquiry into the building’s permissions and structural safety will follow. Meanwhile, rescue teams remain on high alert as hopes fade of finding more survivors under the concrete and mud. The district administration has urged the public to avoid the area and report any similar unsafe structures immediately.