January 9th (AMSP/CGTN) – – Communication services have resumed in quake-hit Dingri County of southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region Wednesday following an overnight repair amid intensive rescue operations as essential relief supplies continue to pour in.
A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Dingri County in the city of Xigaze at 09:05 on Tuesday, with the epicenter located in the county’s Tsogo Township, killing 126 people and injuring 188 others.
The deadly earthquake also damaged 35 base stations operated by China Telecom. At around 02:30 Wednesday, the transmission cables of the last damaged base station were reconnected.
Seven damaged sections of three national and provincial expressways had been repaired and opened to traffic as of 06:00 Wednesday, according to the Ministry of Transport. Meanwhile, rural roads that were damaged to varying degrees have also been restored, allowing emergency rescue and construction vehicles to pass normally.
While rescuers searched for the victims, removed potential risks, and transferred local residents to safety, food, warm clothing and other relief supplies are also continuously sent to Dingri County to ensure the basic needs of people in the disaster areas.
“Upon arrival, we found the situation in the disaster area is relatively serious. Following orders from higher authorities, we were divided into groups to transfer villagers’ livestock and important property. However, there are still aftershocks. We have evacuated locals to safety and are still conducting rescue operations,” said a rescuer.
“My house collapsed. No one was injured except for the livestock. Thanks to the soldiers who helped us,” said a villager of Jiding Village, Tsogo Township.
A total of 646 aftershocks have been detected as of Wednesday noon, with the strongest measuring 4.4 magnitude.
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CGTN