Students of a high school take refuge on the playground in Maqin County of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, May 22, 2021. A 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit Maduo County of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province at 2:04 a.m. Saturday Beijing Time, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.Photo:Xinhua

At least four cities in China, in Northwest China's Qinghai Province, Southwest China's Sichuan and Yunnan Province, and North China's Shaanxi Province, were jolted by earthquakes in 24 hours. At least three deaths were reported as of press time. 

The 6.4 magnitude quake in Yunnan's Yangbi county, with a focal depth of eight kilometers, caused three deaths and injured 27 on Saturday morning. No casualties were reported in earthquakes that occurred in the other three regions yet. 

Hours after the 6.4 magnitude quake in Yunnan, Maduo county of Qinghai reported an earthquake with a 7.4 magnitude, regarded as the biggest earthquake in China after the Wenchuan earthquake of 8.2 magnitude in Southwest China's Sichuan Province in 2008. 

Experts said the two earthquakes have no links but Sun Shihong, a researcher of China Earthquake Networks Center said that the earthquakes that occurred in these two places were related to the recent activity of the Indian plate, according to chinanews.com on Saturday.

The Indian plate has seen a significant increase in activity recently, causing a significant increase in seismic activity in the western region, Sun said. The disaster losses caused by these two earthquakes are not as severe as those caused by other earthquakes of the same level as the fissure this time were relatively far away from populous townships, he said. 

The Maduo county in Qinghai reported a total of 104 aftershocks and 40 earthquakes of magnitude 3 and above. The strong earthquakes in Qinghai collapsed one expressway and a river bridge. Some other roads were severely deformed and cracked. 

Affected by the earthquake, several railway lines in Yunnan Province suspended operation.  

A magnitude 3.4 earthquake also occurred in Xuyong county of Sichuan Province early Saturday and a magnitude 3.6 earthquake occurred in Shangnan county, North China's Shaanxi Province on Saturday morning.

Global Times