At 01:45 on January 8, 2022, an earthquake of magnitude 6.9 struck Menyuan County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province (37.77°N, 101.26°E), with a focal depth of 10 kilometers.
Villages within 5 kilometers of the earthquake's epicenter include Sulfur Gully, Qingshazhang, Sheliwan, Zhongjianggou, and Dagan Shahe. The town within 20 kilometers is Huangcheng Mongolian Ethnic Township. The epicenter is 53 kilometers away from Menyuan Hui Autonomous County, 83 kilometers from Minle County in Gansu Province, 83 kilometers from Yongchang County in Gansu Province, 99 kilometers from Qilian County, 100 kilometers from Haiyan County, 96 kilometers from Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, and 136 kilometers from Xining City.
After the earthquake, the Blue Sky Rescue Coordination Center immediately launched the work of collecting and analyzing disaster information, activated the standby procedures for rescue personnel, prepared rescue supplies and equipment, and coordinated with multiple rescue teams such as the Haixi Blue Sky Emergency Rescue Center and the Zhangye (Gansu) Blue Sky Rescue Team to rush to the rescue site. The Gansu Blue Sky Rescue Team, the Wuwei Blue Sky Rescue Team, and the Jinchang Blue Sky Rescue Team put all their members on standby. Meanwhile, the rear - end rescue platform of the rescue coordination center was launched simultaneously.
As of 02:48 on January 8, 2022, a total of 4 aftershocks of magnitude M3.0 or above were recorded. Among them, there were 0 earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 - 6.9, 1 earthquake of magnitude 5.0 - 5.9, 1 earthquake of magnitude 4.0 - 4.9, and 2 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 - 3.9.
At 01:40, the Haixi Blue Sky Rescue Team submitted a report.
At 02:30, a 9 - member team from the Haixi Blue Sky Rescue, traveling in 2 vehicles, headed to the team headquarters in Delingha to assemble and prepare relevant epidemic - prevention and rescue supplies and equipment.
At 03:57, the first echelon of the Haixi Blue Sky Rescue Team, consisting of 6 members (Li Yi, Zhang Shenghu, Liu Xueyao, Lei Dengcheng, Shan Yaqun, Wang Haifu) in 2 vehicles (license plates: Qing A670A6, Qing ALY352), set off from Xining.
At 04:20, the first echelon of the Haixi Blue Sky Rescue Team, with 6 members in 2 vehicles (license plates: Qing A670A6, Qing ALY352), set off from Xining. They were 110 kilometers away from the earthquake - stricken area when they reached Datong.
At 04:47, the second echelon of the Haixi Blue Sky Rescue Team, consisting of 9 members (Shang Shunjun, Chen Yongji, Zhao Chengwen, Zhang Shengjun, Chen Yonggang, Qi Haipeng, Qi Debing, Zhang Yongji, Li Sheng) in 2 vehicles (license plates: Qing H07896, Qing HX3353), set off from Delingha for the earthquake site in Menyuan.
At 05:30, the first echelon of the Haixi team, with 9 members in 2 vehicles, arrived at Dongchuan Town, Menyuan County. They gathered at a location 13.6 kilometers away from the county seat of Menyuan.
At 05:45, the first echelon of the Haixi team, with 9 members in 2 vehicles, arrived in Menyuan County, 21 kilometers away from Qingshizui Town.
At 06:12, the first echelon of the Haixi team, with 9 members in 2 vehicles, arrived at Qingshizui Town, more than twenty kilometers away from the earthquake epicenter.
At 06:55, the first echelon of the Haixi team, with 9 members in 2 vehicles, reached the Huangcheng Mongolian Ethnic Township Government, which is the closest to the earthquake epicenter.
At 07:32, the statistical officer of Huangcheng Mongolian Ethnic Township was counting the number of affected people and the situation in rural areas, as well as the damage to houses. There are four natural villages in this township.
As of 07:42, preliminary estimates showed that there were no casualties, no houses had collapsed, and only minor cracks were observed in some houses.
At 08:34, the second echelon of the Haixi Blue Sky Rescue Team, consisting of 9 members (Shang Shunjun, Chen Yongji, Zhao Chengwen, Zhang Shengjun, Chen Yonggang, Qi Haipeng, Qi Debing, Zhang Yongji, Li Sheng) in 2 vehicles (license plates: Qing H07896, Qing HX3353), arrived at the Haidong Toll Station for a rest, waiting for information feedback from the first echelon.
At 09:49, the provincial governor arrived at the scene to direct the work.
At 11:30, the first echelon of the Haixi team, consisting of 6 members (Lei Dengcheng, Shan Yaqun, Wang Haifu, Li Yi, Zhang Shenghu, Liu Xueyao) in 2 vehicles with license plates Qing A670A6 and Qing ALY352, prepared to return to Xining.
At 15:14, the first echelon of the Haixi team, with 6 members (Lei Dengcheng, Shan Yaqun, Wang Haifu, Li Yi, Zhang Shenghu, Liu Xueyao) in 2 vehicles, reached Datong Toll Station, 40 kilometers away from Xining.
At 15:55, the first echelon of the Haixi team, consisting of 6 members (Lei Dengcheng, Shan Yaqun, Wang Haifu, Li Yi, Zhang Shenghu, Liu Xueyao) in 2 vehicles, safely returned to Xining, thus ending this mission.
At 08:54, the second echelon of the Haixi Blue Sky Rescue Team, with 9 members (Shang Shunjun, Chen Yongji, Zhao Chengwen, Zhang Shengjun, Chen Yonggang, Qi Haipeng, Qi Debing, Zhang Yongji, Li Sheng) in 2 vehicles (license plates: Qing H07896, Qing HX3353), received the information transmitted back by the first echelon. It was learned that search and rescue operations were not required in the earthquake - stricken area for the time being. After reporting to the headquarters, the second echelon took a one - day rest in Xining and was scheduled to return to Delingha the next day.
At 09:20, the second echelon of the Haixi Blue Sky Rescue Team, consisting of 9 members (Shang Shunjun, Chen Yongji, Zhao Chengwen, Zhang Shengjun, Chen Yonggang, Qi Haipeng, Qi Debing, Zhang Yongji, Li Sheng) in 2 vehicles (license plates: Qing H07896, Qing HX3353), arrived at the Yilaini Hotel in Tangdao 637, Chengxi District, Xining City to rest, thus concluding this mission.