BAQEN, China — China raised its national disaster relief response to Level III on Friday and allocated another 5,000 relief items to Tibet, where local authorities say a magnitude 7.0 earthquake killed 16 people and injured 76.
The National Disaster Prevention, Reduction and Relief Commission and the Ministry of Emergency Management ordered the upgrade under China’s national natural disaster relief emergency plan. The two agencies also sent an additional joint work team to the quake zone to direct relief work.
The ministry allocated the new batch of central relief supplies with the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration. The batch includes cotton tents, padded cotton coats and folding beds, and it adds to 5,000 central relief items sent earlier.
The ministry also activated a mechanism that brings government agencies, charities and businesses together on emergency supplies. Under that arrangement, the ministry coordinated 43,000 items through the Red Cross Society of China, the China Charity Federation, foundations, companies and online platforms. The items include portable toilets, heating stoves, food and fuel. Hot meals are being cooked for residents at centralized resettlement sites.
The quake struck Baqen County in the city of Nagqu at 10:33 p.m. Thursday local time. Xinhua reported the casualty count, which was current as of 1 p.m. Friday and was released at a press conference by the Nagqu municipal government’s information office. The figures have not been independently verified.
More than 5,000 workers are on the front lines, according to the briefing. They are organized into teams for search and rescue, medical treatment, temporary shelter and essential supplies. An emergency command headquarters near the disaster zone is coordinating the effort.
Around the clock, local officials are watching mountainsides, reservoirs, power stations, rivers, unsafe buildings and telecommunications base stations. Crews are fixing damaged power and telecommunications facilities, and service is slowly coming back.
Police and transport officials have checked more than 1,700 kilometers (about 1,060 miles) of road, along with 201 bridges and 324 culverts, to keep routes open for rescuers. They identified 11 potential hazards and cleared rocks from seven stretches of road.
The Red Cross Society of China sent a work team to the area. The group also allocated 3,800 sets of supplies, including family relief kits, hygiene kits, heaters, tents, jackets, folding beds and quilts.
The China Charity Federation set aside 3 million yuan, about $446,561, for emergency rescue work.
Earthquake, weather and emergency management agencies are working together to warn residents of aftershocks and harsh weather, Xinhua reported.
Have something to promote?
Bring your business, services or event to our readers.
