Baku: At least 111 people have been killed when an earthquake collapsed buildings in northwest China, state media reported, as rescue workers raced to start digging through rubble.

About 100 were killed and scores more injured in Gansu province after the strong, shallow tremor struck, state broadcaster CCTV said, citing the provincial earthquake relief headquarters.

According to CCTV, 11 others were killed and 100 injured in the city of Haidong, in the neighbouring province of Qinghai.

The quake caused significant damage, including collapsed houses, and sent people running into the street for safety, state news agency said.

Rescue work was under way early on Tuesday, with Chinese President Xi Jinping calling for “all-out efforts” in the search and relief work as well as ensuring the safety of the survivors and their property.

The quake, which was logged as magnitude 5.9 by the US Geological Survey, struck in Gansu near the border with Qinghai, where Haidong is located.

That epicentre is about 100 kilome
tres southwest of Gansu province’s capital, Lanzhou. Several smaller aftershocks followed the initial earthquake.

reported the quake – which was felt in Xian in northern Shaanxi province, some 570 kilometres away – as magnitude 6.2.
Source: Azerbaijan State News Agency

612 thousand eggs were imported from Azerbaijan to Russia, APA reports citing the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Control of the Russian Federation (“Rosselkhoznadzor”).

On December 19, the first batch of eggs in the amount of 36 tons (612 thousand pieces) was imported from Azerbaijan through the Yarag-Kazmalyar checkpoint.

Some time ago, the Minister of Agriculture, Dmitry Patrushev, issued an order to exempt eggs from the import duty.
Source: Azeri-Press news agency