The recent magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Xinjiang’s Uchturpan county caused the roof of an elementary boarding school to partially collapse, leaving seven students with serious injuries and 12 others requiring treatment at a hospital, a local source told Radio Free Asia.
Several students remained hospitalized earlier this week with brain injuries from the Jan. 23 quake, according to the school's principal.
“The seven most severely injured individuals have been assessed by experts who confirmed no bleeding in the brain,” the principal said. “The unconsciousness observed was attributed to a lack of oxygen following the collapse.”
Xinjiang emergency management authorities said last week that the quake’s epicenter was Uchturpan’s Yamansu village, where the school is located. More than 12,000 residents were displaced throughout the Xinjiang region, they said.
Xinjiang is located along a seismic belt where earthquakes often occur.
The quake was reported as 7.1 magnitude by the China Geological Survey, but as 7 magnitude by the U.S. Geological Survey.
No deaths have been reported.
RFA has contacted officials in Uchturpan county’s Uchturpan Bazaar, Imamlirim town and in Yamansu – the worst-hit locations – to gather information about the extent of damage.
An individual in Uchturpan county, who asked for anonymity, told RFA that he had heard about the damage to the school but was unaware of the harm to the children due to a strict information blockade.
He said two village secretaries have been deemed responsible for the building’s safety and dismissed from their positions.
“There is a special investigation group looking into the reasons behind the school building collapse incident,” the school principal said. “The school’s situation will be thoroughly investigated, and there will be a result.”
Edited by Matt Reed.