Beijing, China — Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, presided over a leadership meeting on Thursday to coordinate relief efforts following a devastating earthquake in the Xizang Autonomous Region earlier this week.
The magnitude-6.8 earthquake struck Dingri County in the city of Xigaze at 9:05 a.m. on Tuesday, resulting in the tragic loss of 126 lives and injuring 188 others. Rescue teams have so far freed 407 individuals who were trapped in the aftermath.
During the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Xi emphasized that disaster relief remains at a critical stage. He urged all involved to maintain unwavering commitment to the relief work, stressing the need for a decisive victory in overcoming the disaster.
The leadership reviewed current relief efforts, acknowledging the swift and effective response from local authorities and departments. Teams have been racing against time to save lives and minimize casualties.
Xi called for all-out efforts to treat the injured and meet the basic living needs of those affected, ensuring they stay warm throughout the winter months. He also highlighted the importance of accelerating infrastructure repairs and clearing debris to restore normalcy in the quake-hit areas as soon as possible.
The meeting underscored the necessity of releasing authoritative information to the public, strengthening the earthquake resistance of houses and infrastructure in key areas, and enhancing overall disaster response capabilities.
Officials at all levels were urged to remain steadfast on the front lines, sparing no effort in fulfilling their duties during this challenging time.
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Xi Jinping chairs CPC leadership meeting on Xizang quake relief
cgtn.com
