BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) — The Argentine government expressed condolences and solidarity with China on Wednesday after the Asian country was hit by an earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale on Monday, which is at least 134 deaths and hundreds of injuries occurred in Gansu and Qinghai provinces.
“The Argentine Republic expresses its condolences to the Chinese government and people for the many victims of the severe earthquake that struck Gansu and Qinghai provinces on December 18,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The South American country's Foreign Ministry added that Argentina “also regrets the economic damage suffered, expresses its solidarity with the Government of the People's Republic of China and hopes that the situation can return to normal as quickly as possible, despite the very difficult climatic conditions” in this region .
The Foreign Ministry said there is “currently no record of any Argentine casualties,” although it also activated the emergency number (86-134) 3995 0030 of the Argentine Consulate in Beijing to respond to all requests for information and assistance.
An earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale with a depth of 10 kilometers struck Gansu and Qinghai provinces last Monday at 11:59 p.m. local time, causing 113 deaths in the first and another 21 in the second, in addition to hundreds of injuries, according to latest official reports.
The epicenter was located in Liugou City, about eight kilometers from the headquarters of Jishishan Bao'an, Dongxiang and Sala Autonomous County in Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu.