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.
Resettlement, treatment efforts proceed smoothly in quake-hit Xizang
Resettlement, treatment efforts proceed smoothly in quake-hit Xizang
Resettlement, treatment efforts proceed smoothly in quake-hit Xizang
