January 8th (AMSP/CGTN) – – Relocated residents had a warm and well-supplied first night following the deadly earthquake in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region on Tuesday, with a steady stream of rescue vehicles and equipment arriving to support the ongoing relief efforts.
A total of 126 people have been confirmed dead and 188 others injured after the 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Xizang at 09:05 (Beijing Time). The earthquake’s epicenter was situated in Tsogo Township, Dingri County, within the city of Xigaze, with 27 villages and a population of around 6,900 people residing within a 20-kilometer radius of the affected area.
A preliminary survey shows that 3,609 houses have collapsed, said the city government of Xigaze, adding that 407 trapped people have been rescued and over 30,000 affected residents have been relocated.
The region has deployed more than 12,000 rescuers, including fire fighters, soldiers, police officers and professional rescuers to the quake site.
In the heavily damaged Chamco Township of Dingri County, rescue teams set up tent shelters in Gurum Village and other affected areas, providing essential amenities such as quilts, food, water, medical supplies, and cooking stoves to accommodate those in need.
A power supply system is expected to be completed at one relocation point in Chamco Township.
Meanwhile, a steady stream of rescue equipment and vehicles, including those transporting vital relief supplies and emergency communication equipment, has been arriving in the township, bolstering the relief efforts as the search for trapped victims is ongoing.
China’s central authorities have dispatched some 22,000 disaster relief items to the quake-hit region, including cotton tents, winter coats, quilts and folding beds, together with special relief materials for high-altitude and frigid areas.
The earthquake emergency response in Xizang has been raised to level I, the highest one, the region’s emergency command center announced on Tuesday.
According to weather forecast, Dingri will experience mostly sunny weather over the next couple of days, with the temperature ranging between minus 17 and 8 degrees Celsius.
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CGTN