Quake, Collapse, Survival: 91-Year-Old Pulled Alive From Rubble In China’s Guangxi

The quake, centred in Liunan district of Liuzhou city, hit just after midnight, jolting residents from their sleep and sending them rushing outdoors as walls cracked and debris fell. With more than 7,000 people evacuated and dozens of buildings damaged or collapsed, emergency crews raced against time to locate the missing, including the elderly resident later found alive.

Midnight Jolt In Liuzhou

The 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck at around 00:21 local time in Liunan district, Liuzhou, in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, with a shallow focal depth of about 8 kilometres. Shaking was strong enough to be felt across surrounding towns, knocking items off shelves and leaving cracks in older and poorly reinforced structures.

Authorities quickly activated a Level 3 emergency response, sending firefighters, rescuers, medical teams and engineers into the affected zone. At least 13 buildings collapsed or were severely damaged, some roads were blocked by landslides, and railway operators temporarily halted or delayed services while checking tracks and bridges.

How The 91-Year-Old Was Found

In the immediate aftermath, three people were reported missing and four injured, though officials said the injuries were not life-threatening. Search teams focused on hard-hit areas in and around Taiyangcun town, combing through rubble with heavy machinery, sniffer dogs and handheld tools as aftershocks remained a risk.

By around 11:10 a.m. on Monday, rescuers located the 91-year-old man alive under debris, carefully extricated him and rushed him to hospital, where doctors later confirmed he was in stable condition. Two other people trapped at the same site were found dead, highlighting the fine line between survival and tragedy in such quakes. Officials and Chinese media have not disclosed the survivor’s name, referring to him only by age and locality, in line with common privacy practices.

Rescue And Impact Highlights

1. Epicenter located in Liunan district, Liuzhou city, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.
2. 5.2-magnitude quake with an 8 km depth, recorded just after midnight.
3. At least 2 fatalities and 4 injuries reported; injuries described as non-life-threatening.
4. Over 7,000 residents evacuated from homes deemed unsafe or at risk.
5. About 13 buildings collapsed or badly damaged, with landslides disrupting roads.
6. 91-year-old man rescued alive around late morning Monday; name withheld by authorities for privacy.

Aftershocks, Risk And The Road Ahead

Seismologists have warned of possible smaller aftershocks, and authorities are keeping temporary shelters open while engineers inspect schools, hospitals and older residential buildings. Local officials say psychological counselling and basic supplies are being provided to evacuees as they wait to learn whether their homes are safe to re-enter. For many in Liuzhou and across Guangxi, the rescue of the unnamed 91-year-old has become a symbol of resilience and a reminder of the importance of rapid, coordinated disaster response in an earthquake-prone region