Strong cold wave hits parts of China

A strong cold wave has swept through a large part of northern and eastern China since Friday, causing a sharp drop in temperatures in the affected areas. From Thursday evening, the eastern province of Shandong has experienced widespread rainfall, with some areas being hit by downpours.

In Qingdao City, heavy rains caused street water-logging and raised river levels in some areas.

In addition, the sudden temperature decline in Dezhou City has forced local residents to put on heavy coats and gloves.

"It felt colder after the rain yesterday. When I rode my electric scooter out this morning, I had to wear my down jacket and long johns because it was so cold," said a Dezhou resident surnamed Yang.

Meanwhile, north China's Hebei Province is also impacted by the cold air and has seen widespread rainfall and a sudden drop in temperatures. The province issued a yellow alert for cold wave on Saturday, with the lowest temperatures expected to drop by 10 to 12 degrees Celsius in most areas over this weekend.

"It rained all night, and it is so cold today. I put on thick clothes when I went out," said Shao Jianchao, a resident in Hebei's Handan City.

Strong cold wave hits parts of China

A 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck Liunan District in Liuzhou, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, at 00:21 Monday Beijing time, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC)

The quake's epicenter was monitored at 24.38 degrees north latitude and 109.26 degrees east longitude, with a depth of eight kilometers, the center said.

Tremors were felt in the urban areas of Liuzhou, Guilin, Guigang, Wuzhou, Hechi, Nanning and Laibin.

The China Earthquake Administration (CEA) initiated a Level III emergency response following the quake.

In Taiyangcun Township, near the epicenter, seven self-built roadside houses were reported to have collapsed, leaving some people trapped. Cracks were also reported in several buildings.

Following the earthquake, the Guangxi Earthquake Bureau activated a Level II emergency response. A rescue team from the Liunan Fire Brigade, consisting of 30 personnel and four vehicles, has arrived at the scene and is carrying out search-and-rescue operations, while another 80 rescuers are expected to arrive later.

5.2-magnitude quake strikes south China's Guangxi