BEIJING, January 9. /TASS/. The Russian Cultural Center (RCC) in Beijing has sent a shipment of food products to earthquake-stricken Gansu Province in northwestern Chinese, where over 140 people have died as a result of the natural disaster, the RCC said in a statement.

"On December 27, 2023, the Russian Cultural Center collected and sent to the disaster zone a parcel weighing 60 kg with Russian-made products, in particular sweets, cookies, powdered and condensed milk, canned meat and fish in an effort to provide support for the children," the statement says. "It was very important to us that the shipment arrived in time for the New Year, and that the children were able to receive some delicious gifts for the holiday," RCC head Tatyana Urzhumtseva said, as cited by the statement.

The statement notes that the earthquake caused human casualties and significant damage to infrastructure, including power and water supply. As well, telecommunications networks were disrupted and roads and other facilities were damaged. It emphasizes that, "the Chinese government mobilized all its forces to save people: temporary housing was organized for the victims, and the local school continued to operate."

The RCC reported that the Gansu Province Culture and Tourism Department received the parcel and responded with a letter of thanks. "Earthquakes are merciless, but there is love in the world! You have donated powdered milk, cookies, sweets and other goods to the children of Jishishan Bonan Dongxiang and Salar Autonomous County, showing sincere love that transcends national borders," the letter said.

A number of tremors with a magnitude of up to 6.2 were recorded on the night of December 19 in the village of Lugou. The epicenter of the quake lay at a depth of 10 km. The disaster resulted in the deaths of more than 140 people and left more than 1,000 injured. Over 150,000 houses were destroyed and damaged in Gansu.