Shandong earthquake: Tremors disrupt train services, buildings crumble

In a shocking event that left China’s eastern province of Shandong in devastation, a magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck with fury, injuring 21 unsuspecting residents and reducing 126 structures to rubble, state broadcaster CCTV unveiled.

Trains Halted, Buildings Tumble: The Aftermath of the Shandong Tremor

The seismic tremor, originating 10 km beneath the Earth’s crust, rumbled through Pingyuan County of Dezhou City, interrupting the peaceful night at precisely 02:33 a.m. (1833 GMT on Saturday). Panic ensued. China Railway Group, in a swift action spurred by the unexpected quake, paused operations across crucial routes like the Beijing–Shanghai and Beijing-Kowloon railways.

Magnitude 5.5 Earthquake Shakes Shandong, China: 21 Injured, 126 Buildings Collapsed. Photo courtesy of Jens Aber on Unsplash.

Injuries Mount as Rescue Teams Scramble

By Sunday morning, officials reported 21 casualties from the cities of Dezhou and Liaocheng. The grim aftermath also saw 126 houses crumpled to the ground. But help is on the way: Emergency rescue brigades are working tirelessly on the ground.

Beijing on Edge: Tremors Felt Hundreds of Kilometers Away

Adding to the shockwaves, even the mighty Chinese capital, Beijing – situated over 300 km from the ground zero of destruction – wasn’t spared. The city’s residents experienced unsettling tremors. Consequently, Beijing Railway took drastic measures, announcing the halt of more than 60 trains on Sunday.