Authorities in China’s Xizang Autonomous Region have set up over 5,000 makeshift homes to shelter residents affected by a magnitude-6.8 earthquake that struck Dingri County last week, officials announced on Thursday.
So far, 6,135 temporary housing units have been delivered to the quake-hit area, with 5,152 already assembled. Additional housing units are on their way to provide further relief.
“Keeping affected residents warm and safe during the resettlement is our top priority,” said Wei Jun, deputy head of the regional emergency management department, at a press briefing.
The earthquake, which hit on January 7, tragically claimed 126 lives in Dingri, home to the northern base camp of Mount Qomolangma, known globally as Mount Everest. Dingri, with over 60,000 residents, is one of the most populous border counties in Xizang.
As the quake zone sits at an altitude above 4,000 meters and is experiencing its coldest period of the year, authorities have distributed essential supplies like electric stoves, heating blankets, and warm clothing to those in need.
Water conservancy teams have inspected 14 reservoirs in the affected area, identifying risks such as cracks in five of them. Three reservoirs have been drained as a precaution. In La’ang Reservoir, officials are increasing water discharge to mitigate any potential dam failures.
To ensure safety, around 1,500 residents from six downstream villages have been relocated to emergency shelters situated at higher elevations, away from riverbanks.
Rescue teams have also recovered cash totaling approximately 6.96 million yuan (about $968,000) in the disaster area. Donations from across society have reached around 1.64 billion yuan, including funds and goods, which will aid in relocation and provision of basic necessities.
The regional department of civil affairs has allocated over 6.63 million yuan in central government funding to support Dingri County’s relief efforts.
Reference(s):
Officials: Tibetans hit by quake kept warm, reservoir risks stemmed
cgtn.com
