Resettlement, treatment efforts proceed smoothly in quake-hit Xizang

China

Resettlement, treatment efforts proceed smoothly in quake-hit Xizang

2025-01-10 04:17 Last Updated At：06:17

The resettlement and medical treatment of people displaced or injured in a 6.8-magnitude earthquake which jolted Dingri County in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Tuesday morning are proceeding smoothly, said regional officials.

The earthquake has claimed at least 126 lives, damaged 27,248 homes and impacted approximately 61,500 people to varying degrees, said Hao Tao, deputy director of the regional emergency management department, at a press conference on Thursday.

A total of 224 resettlement sites have been established so far for 47,500 residents relocated from the quake-hit areas, with their basic living needs ensured, Hao noted.

"Residents in the affected areas now have warm clothing, tents, bedding, heating, hot meals, and clean drinking water. Injured individuals have received prompt medical care," said Hao.

Kelsang Yudron, director of the regional health commission, said that local hospitals had admitted 337 injured individuals by 09:00 on Thursday, with 246 discharged after treatment.

"Currently, 91 people remain hospitalized, including 72 with minor injuries and 19 in serious condition. Medical efforts are transitioning from emergency response to standardized care," she said.

The earthquake also caused the collapse of 3,612 houses, raising concerns about further structural damage in the affected areas. Li Xiuwu, director of the regional housing and urban-rural development department, said the powerful earthquake and its epicenter in a populated area had led to widespread destruction.

"The collapsed buildings are mainly rural homes and self-built houses in urban areas. First, the earthquake had a high magnitude and strong intensity. The meizoseismal area at the earthquake's epicenter in Dingri County reached an intensity of IX with great destructiveness that exceeded local anti-seismic design standards for buildings. Second, the shallow-focus earthquake, with a focal depth of only 10 kilometers, are significantly destructive for surface structures. Third, the epicenter was close to towns and villages. Within five kilometers of the epicenter, there are seven villages, and the proximity to these areas led to extensive damage to buildings in both towns and villages," said Li.

Shanghai receives 1st visiting int'l cruise ship of 2025

2025-01-10 03:17 Last Updated At：06:17

The first cruise ship visiting Shanghai in 2025 arrived at the Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal on Wednesday, carrying more than 400 passengers from around the world.

On May 15, 2024, China's National Immigration Administration rolled out a visa-free entry policy for foreign tourist groups entering China on cruise ships, and increased the number of cruise ports eligible for visa-free entry to 13. In December, the administration introduced a 240-hour transit visa-free policy, and added 21 entry and exit ports for those entering under the new policy.

"More than 95 percent of the passengers on this cruise ship are applicable to various visa exemption policies. For example, more than 300 passengers, representing over 93 percent, are applicable to the 15-day visa exemption for cruise groups, while some passengers are eligible for visa-free entry into China or the 240-hour transit visa exemption. It can be said that the visa exemption policies have greatly benefited our cruise inbound tourism market," said Ma Yingjie, an officer at the Pujiang border inspection station under the Shanghai General Station of Immigration Inspection.

The passengers on the cruise ship Silver Dawn come from different countries including the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom and Germany. During the two-day stay, they will visit the Bund, the Oriental Pearl Tower, the Shanghai Museum, the National Exhibition and other places to personally feel the unique charm of Shanghai.

"Today we are going to the Water Town, and then we're back. We hope to explore the evening here the night in Shanghai. Tomorrow we are going to [eat] the dumplings," said a Swiss tourist.

According to statistics, Shanghai ports recorded 1.3759 million visits by cruise passengers in total in 2024. It is expected that the city will see more than 20 cruise ship visits in 2025.