Sub-zero temperatures, snow and rain are hampering rescue efforts
in the earthquake zone in northwest China's
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, where at least 268 people
were killed and over 4,000 injured.
Snow began falling on Saturday and had turned to icy sleet by
Monday in Bachu County, the epicenter of the February 24
earthquake, which measured 6.8 on the Richter scale.
The temperature has dropped noticeably and the sleet is expected to
continue until tomorrow, according to meteorologists in Kashi
Prefecture.
With temperatures creeping as low as minus 3 C, officials are
facing growing problems caring for the survivors.
The quake-hit areas badly need tents and other items to combat the
cold, according to sources at the earthquake rescue headquarters in
Bachu.
Thirty tons of plastic sheeting have been distributed to local
residents to build makeshift shelters. Another 30 tons have been
collected from neighboring areas and are awaiting distribution,
according to the headquarters.
Moreover, 7,000 tents were hurrying their way to Bachu from north
China's Tianjin, which is about 3,000 km away, according to the
Ministry of Civil Affairs.
Two solar electricity generators donated by the Yingli New Energy
Resources Co restored heat and light yesterday to some areas of
Bachu.
The generators are capable of providing 7.5 kilowatt-hours per day
and are worth 200,000 yuan (US$24,160) each. The generators will be
used by a local hospital and the rescue headquarters.
As
survivors struggled to get their lives back to normal,
seismological experts warned that the quake-jolted areas could
experience further aftershocks measuring 5 or 6 on the Richter
scale.
Du
Wei, an expert with the China Seismological Bureau, called on the
government of Xinjiang to work out a comprehensive disaster-relief
plan and to provide technical guidance for local residents.
He
advised local residents to rebuild their homes with
earthquake-resistant materials.
According to the State Seismological Bureau, more than 1,000
aftershocks have shaken Jiashi and Bachu counties since last week's
earthquake. Two of the tremors measured 5 degrees on the Richter
scale.
Health experts suggested that psychologists should be sent to the
afflicted areas because many survivors - especially the old and the
young - are suffering varying degrees of trauma.
(China Daily March 4, 2003)