China mobilizes massive relief effort after deadliest quake in years
In a desperate struggle against plunging temperatures, Chinese authorities are racing against time to provide shelter for victims of the recent earthquake that struck the border between Gansu and Qinghai provinces.
The devastating quake, occurring just before midnight on Monday, claimed the lives of at least 135 people, throwing survivors into a dire situation aggravated by the harsh December weather.
Zhou Yongfeng, an official from Gansu’s Jishishan county, emphasized the urgency, stating, “It’s a race against time to meet the needs of the population as quickly as possible, so that people can spend a warm winter in complete safety.”
The widespread cold wave across China has prompted authorities to issue alerts, adding complexity to the already challenging aid operation.
Survivors are grappling with freezing temperatures, resorting to huddling around fires for warmth.
The government has distributed thousands of blue tents to replace improvised shelters erected immediately after the quake.
A mammoth logistical effort is underway, witnessed by AFP reporters, as thousands of relief workers strive to establish shelter, food, and other facilities for the displaced.
Resettlement emerges as a critical issue, especially in Liugou, a township near the quake’s epicenter.
Zhou stressed the inadequacy of makeshift tents, stating, “But as winters are too cold in northern China, it’s not possible to rebuild directly after the disaster. Work can only start in the spring of next year.”
The earthquake, measuring 5.9 according to the US Geological Survey, left nearly 1,000 injured across the two provinces.
The death toll continues to rise, with rescuers still searching for victims buried alive in Zhongchuan township in Qinghai.
Twelve people remain missing after a “sand boil,” a phenomenon resulting from soil liquefaction during an earthquake.
This tragic event marks China’s deadliest quake since 2014, when over 600 people lost their lives in southwestern Yunnan province.
At the Jishishan County People’s Hospital in Gansu, doctors are attending to survivors, despite visible damage to the hospital buildings.
A patient awaiting surgery expressed the heart-wrenching reality, saying, “I really want to go home, but my place has been destroyed, so I wonder where I can go.” Anxiety persists among residents due to aftershock concerns, as one official noted, “They can’t sleep well because there is no safe place.”
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