Last week, a magnitude-6.8 earthquake struck Dingri County in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, prompting immediate relief efforts to support the affected population. The earthquake, which occurred on January 7, resulted in the tragic loss of 126 lives and left many more displaced in one of Xizang's most populous counties.
In response to the disaster, regional authorities swiftly set up 5,152 makeshift homes to provide shelter for those impacted. Currently, 13,000 makeshift board houses have been secured, with 6,135 already delivered to the quake-hit areas and an additional 5,152 units assembled. Officials have assured that more housing units are on their way to ensure the safety and comfort of the affected residents.
Deputy Head Wei Jun emphasized that keeping quake-affected individuals warm remains the top priority during the resettlement phase. To combat the extreme cold at altitudes exceeding 4,000 meters, essential materials such as electric stoves, heating blankets, and cotton-padded apparel have been distributed in a timely manner.
The disaster also raised concerns about water safety in the region. Water conservancy authorities inspected 14 reservoirs, identifying localized cracks and other risk signs in five of them. As a precaution, three reservoirs have been drained. In the endangered La'ang Reservoir in Changsuo Township, increased discharge flow measures are being implemented to prevent dam failure, ensuring the safety of approximately 1,500 people from six downstream villages who have been relocated to higher emergency shelters.
Rescue teams have made significant progress, recovering cash totaling about 6.96 million yuan (approximately $968,000). Additionally, donations from all sectors of society have reached around 1.64 billion yuan, comprising 1.53 billion yuan in funds and 106 million yuan in goods. These contributions are earmarked for the relocation and resettlement of affected communities, as well as for providing basic living necessities.
To support these efforts, the regional department of civil affairs has allocated over 6.63 million yuan in central government funding to Dingri County, reinforcing the commitment to rebuilding and assisting those affected by the earthquake.
Reference(s):
Officials: Tibetans hit by quake kept warm, reservoir risks stemmed
cgtn.com
