The China Earthquake Networks Center reports that a magnitude 5.1 earthquake occurred in China’s southern Sichuan province on Friday, when the Himalayan area remained on high alert due to deadly floods along the border between China and Nepal.
Hundreds of miles away from the flood-affected districts close to the Nepal-Tibet border, Longchang city in Sichuan recorded an earthquake. There were no initial reports of significant damage or injuries from the earthquake.
Following a catastrophic flash flood and landslide that occurred in the border region earlier this week, the earthquake happened amid ongoing rescue and relief efforts in Tibet and Nepal.
Hundreds of people have died and hundreds are still missing as a result of the calamity.
On Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping presided over a gathering of senior authorities to discuss rescue efforts in Tibet.
Rescue attempts are being made more difficult by the ongoing threats posed by glaciers, ice lakes, and geological disasters, according to authorities.
Following an increase in water levels at the scene of the last disaster, Nepal has also issued new flood warnings.
Residents and rescue personnel in high-risk locations have been advised by authorities to relocate to safer areas.
Fears of additional floods downstream have been raised by China’s warning about a potential breach of a recently created barrier lake close to the border.
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