Rescue and Relief Efforts Intensified After Earthquake in Xizang
Dragon Media Newsroom
Search and rescue operations, medical treatment and relief distribution have been stepped up after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Baqen County in Nagqu City, Xizang Autonomous Region, on Thursday night. Local authorities said 16 people had died and 76 were injured by Friday afternoon. Homes belonging to 339 households were damaged.
Eight rescuers from a local fire and rescue unit reached the affected area in two vehicles at 2:10 a.m. Friday. Ten minutes later, they rescued a person trapped in the debris, according to media reports.
The Xizang Military Command and the Xizang Corps of the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force activated their emergency response plans after receiving orders. More than 300 personnel in over 20 vehicles were sent to the area overnight, Xinhua reported. The Air Force of the Western Theater Command also deployed an unmanned aircraft around midnight to survey the disaster zone.
Relief supplies began arriving early Friday. They included 1,000 prefabricated shelters, more than 3,200 tents, over 2,800 folding beds, and daily necessities such as quilts, stoves and clothing.
Authorities activated a Level III emergency response for natural disaster relief. Police, fire and rescue personnel, and electricity and transport teams were deployed. More than 300 police officers were sent to the area, while the regional fire and rescue corps dispatched 347 personnel and more than 9,400 sets of supplies.
To maintain emergency power, State Grid Xizang Electric Power Co. sent 23 workers, six vehicles, 49 sets of lighting equipment and two low-voltage power generation vehicles. Crews inspected power facilities through the night, the company said.
The volunteer group Xizang Blue Sky Rescue sent an advance team of 20 rescuers in seven vehicles, carrying more than 100 pieces of earthquake-rescue equipment and medical supplies. Another 20 members were placed on standby, the group said.
The epicentre was reported to be 59 kilometres from Baqen County, 152 kilometres from Zadoi County in Qinghai Province and 399 kilometres from Lhasa. The average elevation near the epicentre is about 4,800 metres, and the surrounding area is sparsely populated. A magnitude 4.3 earthquake also struck Zadoi County late Thursday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.
China’s Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Emergency Management allocated 500 million yuan in central disaster-relief funds to support search and rescue operations and assistance for affected residents. The National Development and Reform Commission also earmarked 30 million yuan from the central budget for emergency repairs to infrastructure and public facilities in the quake zone.
