More than 126,000 people had been left homeless after an
earthquake in Southwest China that killed four and injured nearly
600, officials said.
The 5.6 Richter-scale quake rocked Ludian County in Yunnan
Province late Tuesday, causing massive damage to buildings.
Some 126,234 people were living in tents or in the open after
18,556 houses had collapsed, according to the latest reports by
Xinhua News Agency.
In addition, 65,601 houses were damaged as were schools,
factories, office buildings and reservoirs.
In total, 594 people were injured, 127 seriously, Zhaotong Mayor
Deng Xianpei was quoted as saying. Four people, including a
four-year-old girl, were killed. Earlier reports said the death
toll was three.
Ludian was in urgent need of relief funds, materials and
medicines, said Deng.
Some hospitals had been damaged in the quake, but the number of
injured continued to rise. Antibiotics and disinfecting medicines
were "scarce," said Deng.
The quake almost entirely wiped out the tobacco industry, the
backbone of the region. Reports say that 130,000 people will have
to rely on relief food over the next eight months.
Rescue teams continued sifting through the wreckage Thursday in
the worst hit areas, Taoyuan and Buga townships.
According to Xinhua, the county has received 3,000 tents, 4,500
quilts and 4,500 items of clothing sent by the Yunnan Provincial
Government.
The Red Cross Society of China, meanwhile, is donating another
300,000 yuan (US$36,232) worth of tents, clothing and quilts to the
victims.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Civil
Affairs have appropriated 12 million yuan (US$1.45 million) in
emergency relief for Ludian.
With a population of 378,000, Ludian is one of China's poorest
counties.
(Shenzhen Daily August 13, 2004)