A magnitude-6.2 earthquake struck a remote and mountainous region on the northern edge of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau just before midnight on Monday, resulting in the death of at least 118 people and injuring hundreds, as reported by Chinese state media.

Emergency responses have been activated by authorities, but rescue efforts face challenges in subzero temperatures. The majority of China is experiencing freezing temperatures due to a cold wave sweeping across the country.

Earthquakes are frequent in western provinces such as Gansu, situated on the eastern boundary of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, a region known for tectonic activity. China's deadliest quake in recent decades occurred in 2008 when a magnitude-8.0 temblor struck Sichuan, claiming nearly 70,000 lives.

The latest earthquake occurred at 11:59 pm local time on Monday, affecting Jishishan county in Gansu at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC). The epicenter was located 5 km from the border between Gansu and the neighboring province of Qinghai, where strong tremors were also felt.