Abstract: A magnitude 6.2 earthquake occurred at 23:59 on December 18, 2023 in Jishishan County, Linxia Prefecture, Gansu Province (35.7° N, 102.79° E), The earthquake was felt and spread widely, causing serious casualties and property losses. In this paper , the disaster characteristics of the earthquake was fanalyzed and its causes was discussed and thought first. It is concluded that: The Jishishan earthquake occurred late at night in winter, with an intensity of strong earthquake (magnitude 6.2), shallow earthquake source and strong destructive earthquake. The earthquake occurred in the border area between the Loess Plateau and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the site belongs to the Yellow River basin, is located on sedimentary strata, the fortified level of buildings is low or no fortified, and the population density in the earthquake area is dense. It is the main cause of heavy casualties and great property losses. Finally, the enlightenment and suggestions for earthquake disaster response was obtained that the level of earthquake-resistant building is appropriately improved, disaster prediction is enhanced and emergency response capacity is built, and the site selection of housing construction should be avoid the fault and river impact siltation area. In the future, especially in the summer rainy season, the disaster area is more prone to landslide, collapse, debris flow and other geological disasters.