Twin earthquakes of 5.9 and 5.6 magnitude struck near Dingxi in Gansu province on Monday morning, leaving at least 89 dead and hundreds more injured. (The magnitude numbers are via the US Geological Survey; the China Earthquake Networks Center measured it at 6.6). The latest from AFP states, “China’s official Xinhua news agency said initial investigations showed at least 5,785 houses had collapsed and another 73,000 were severely damaged.”
The above footage was from a surveillance camera inside a cafeteria in Minxian county, Gansu. The one man in the scene flees as soon as the ground begins to shake, as he well should. Tiles begin falling from the ceiling while a TV continues playing in the background.
Why the discrepancy between USGS and official Chinese measures of the earthquake? Saving face for Chinese construction?
Different countries use different standards, ie Japan~