Tibet death toll rises to 18 with 55 injured
Print Edition
THE death toll in southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region from the earthquake that struck neighboring Nepal on Saturday has climbed to 18. A total of 55 people there were injured, according to the regional disaster relief headquarters.
The quake affected the southwestern part of Tibet and some 12,000 people have been evacuated.
As of 7am yesterday, four people, including a Nepalese national, were missing in Nyalam County. About 80 tourists, including a dozen foreigners, were visiting the county when the earthquake struck.
The quake toppled 1,191 houses, damaged roads and cut telecommunications in the city of Xigaze, where 54 temples were damaged.
A 5.9-magnitude aftershock shook the city at 5:17pm on Saturday and a 5.3-magnitude quake jolted Nyalam at 1:42am yesterday, the China Earthquake Networks Center said. Weather forecasts predict continuous rain and snow for the next few days.
Over 400 mountaineers from more than 20 countries on the Tibetan side of Mount Everest have descended or are descending to the north base camp at 5,200 meters with no casualties reported.
The central government has sent 5,000 tents, 30,000 coats, 30,000 comforters, 15,000 folding beds and 15,000 sleeping bags to the affected area. The regional government has sent tents, coats, food, medicine and drinking water.
Tibet military command is helping with relief work. The Xigaze military subarea has assembled 1,050 soldiers and members of the militia, 60 medical staff and 87 vehicles. More rescuers from the regional military area are on their way.
About 600 border guards are involved in rescue operations in Nyalam and Gyirong counties. Rescuers are braving heavy snow and rain to reach the affected area, but are hampered by landslides on the road to Nyalam.
“Aftershocks are our biggest worry at the moment, because there is nowhere to hide,” said Gyanga Tseten, detachment head of the Xigaze fire brigade, who is leading a 30-strong task force to the Zham Pass about 37 kilometers from Nyalam.
Two groups of health workers have reached Gyirong and begun disinfection operations. Another group had reached Nyalam by noon, where epidemic prevention and control is under way.
Protection of drinking water sources is the priority.
Telecommunication technicians are repairing the 66 base stations in the city that had stopped working during the earthquakes.
China Mobile’s branch in Lhasa and its sub-branch in Xigaze have sent 57 technicians and 10 emergency vehicles along the road from Xigaze to Nyalam and Zham. China Unicom and China Telecom have also sent technicians and recovery vehicles to the worst-hit areas.
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