Regions in Southwest China's Yunnan province experienced strong tremors as a 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar at a depth of 30 kilometers at 2:20 pm on Friday.
According to the China Earthquake Administration, strong tremors were felt in Yunnan's Dehong, Lincang, Baoshan, Xishuangbanna, Lijiang and Dali, while Chuxiong and Kunming experienced noticeable shaking.
In the aftermath of the earthquake, a video clip showing the damage to a tall building of the Fortune Mall in Ruili of Yunnan's Dehong Dai and Jingpo autonomous prefecture garnered significant attention on social media platforms.
"I felt a mild shake first, so I went out of the building to the street. Then, a strong shake was felt and I can see the building was shaking too," Ge Zhaolan, 45, a merchant at the shopping mall, told China Daily.
He said the rooftop water tank on the 30th floor was broken, leading to a substantial spilling of water.
"I was spilled (hit) by the water too, but it was not that terrifying as the video showed," he recalled.
Another merchant told Nanfang Metropolis Daily that during the incident, a female employee at her shop witnessed another female employee at a nearby bubble tea store being struck on the head by falling debris, resulting in a head injury and profuse bleeding.
The injured individual was swiftly transported and given medical attention, she said.
Footage from surveillance cameras provided by the merchant depicted a scene where a torrent of water cascaded down, knocking down several individuals.
"Basically, all occupants were able to evacuate unharmed," she said.
According to the China Earthquake Administration, the earthquake's epicenter was approximately 294 kilometers from the nearest Chinese border and about 310 km from the city hall of Ruili.
The administration immediately activated its emergency response mechanism.
The authorities organized rolling consultations to assess the situation and rushed a team from the Yunnan Earthquake Agency to Ruili to assist local authorities in emergency response efforts.
Ruili's information office told CCTV News on Friday afternoon that only two individuals sustained minor injuries at the Fortune Mall and were promptly taken to a hospital for treatment. There have been no reported casualties, although several old buildings suffered damage. The city has maintained order with normal traffic and communication.
According to the National Fire and Rescue Administration, after the earthquake, fire and rescue teams in Yunnan quickly assembled and prepared. Four teams were dispatched, and several other teams stay prepared for deployment and reinforcement.
As of 3:30 pm, local transportation, roads, telecommunication, and internet services were normal, and relevant information tracked and verified.
The earthquake may trigger a local tsunami, but as the epicenter is located outside the Pacific region, it will not affect the coastal areas of China, said China's Ministry of Natural Resources.
