Relief efforts have been in full swing in Dingri County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, to help affected residents return to normal life as quickly as possible following a 6.8-magnitude earthquake on Jan 7.
Currently, a total of 6,100 makeshift houses have been set up in the quake-hit area, with all required temporary housing expected to be completed before the Spring Festival at the end of the month. Meanwhile, efforts are being stepped up to provide enough food and heating supplies for the victims.
In addition, rescuers, including firefighters and police officers, are working to recover belongings of those affected and retrieve their property from the damaged homes.
As of Friday afternoon, fire departments have cleared 1,055 sites of debris caused by the earthquake, saving over 85,000 items of property and more than 3.2 million yuan (436,000 U.S. dollars) in cash.
At a relocation site in Gurong Village of Dingri, more than 20 local teachers and university students began Friday to provide local children with various public welfare classes, such as traditional culture, music, and art, to help them continue their education during the recovery period.
Relief efforts underway in Xizang to help quake-affected ones to return to normal life
Relief efforts underway in Xizang to help quake-affected ones to return to normal life
Twenty-nine people were confirmed missing as of 0:00 Sunday after a landslide struck southwest China's Sichuan Province, according to a preliminary investigation by the local government.
The disaster struck at around 11:50 on Saturday in Jinping Village, Junlian County, in the city of Yibin.
Officials from the Yibin government announced the data at a press conference on Sunday, noting that the final number is still being verified. They also stated that two people were rescued in the afternoon -- one severely injured and the other with minor injuries.
The landslide buried 11 houses, according to Yibin authorities. Officials stated that a preliminary analysis indicates continuous rainfall and geological conditions turned the high-altitude landslide into a debris flow. Currently, the landslide remains active.
About 200 residents have been evacuated to safety. Relevant departments urgently transported supplies and worked to ensure the basic living needs of the displaced people, including food, accommodation, and heating.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, ordered all-out search and rescue efforts to minimize casualties after the landslide.
Xi urged efforts to properly handle the aftermath. He stressed strengthening monitoring and early warning, ensuring the rescue work is carried out scientifically, and preventing the occurrence of secondary disasters.
29 people confirmed missing after landslide in Sichuan
29 people confirmed missing after landslide in Sichuan