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Letter from Lhasa: Hope amid tears -- rebuilding lives after the Xizang quake

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E-mail Xinhua, January 11, 2025

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by Huang Yaoman

LHASA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Over the past five days, in the wake of a strong earthquake that struck Dingri County in Xizang Autonomous Region, I have witnessed countless tears -- both my own and those of others -- amid the ongoing relief efforts.

At 9:05 a.m. on Jan. 7, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit Dingri, home to the northern base camp of world's highest peak, Mount Qomolangma. As soon as we received the news, my colleagues and I rushed to the epicenter. After a long and bumpy journey across the vast region, we finally reached Tsogo Township, one of the hardest-hit areas, at 2:30 a.m. the following day.

Tears welled up as I stepped out of the car, the freezing wind cutting through me. The temperature had dropped to minus 18 degrees Celsius.

At an altitude of about 4,500 meters, I felt as though I had fallen into an ice hole, despite being wrapped in my thickest down jacket.

The entire township was shrouded in darkness due to power outages.

Fortunately, I saw scattered points of light from a relocation site, where most of the affected villagers had taken shelter. The elderly, women and children had already fallen asleep, while many young men gathered around a campfire, awaiting the arrival of more relief supplies for unloading and distribution.

Among the supplies, I saw tsampa (a staple food for Tibetans), yak meat, instant noodles, bottled water, feminine hygiene products and baby items.

In a tent, I met Ma Junyun and his friends, who were cooking and distributing free hot noodles to passersby. He told me they had driven from the city of Xigaze, and mentioned that his hometown, Jishishan County in Gansu Province, had been hit by a 6.2-magnitude earthquake on Dec. 18, 2023.

"After the disaster, we received aid from across China, including people in Xizang," he said. "I should come and help right away."

His words moved me to tears, reflecting the spirit of mutual aid that runs deep in China during times of emergency.

On my way, I met Tendar, a State Grid worker who had worked tirelessly for nearly 20 hours to restore power.

"I don't really feel tired. I just want to get everything back to normal as soon as possible. This is my hometown," he said, with tears slipping down his cheeks. He didn't wipe them away, instead keeping his eyes fixed on the road ahead, heading to the next location where he needed to repair the power grid.

At a relocation site in Senge Village, Chamco Township, the sound of monks' prayers emanating from a tent drew me in.

As I approached, I saw a granny standing outside, crying helplessly, all alone. I couldn't find the words, but instinctively, I embraced her. I heard her softly whispering in Tibetan, "My daughter, my grandson." Tears streamed down my face as well, and all I could do was hold her hands even tighter.

The earthquake claimed 126 lives and left hundreds injured, with more than 3,600 rural houses toppled.

One silver lining is that 224 relocation sites have been established in the affected areas, providing shelter for 47,500 people.

I witnessed makeshift homes being built from scratch. Once completed, disaster-stricken villagers will be able to move from tents into more comfortable housing. Folding beds, gas stoves, heaters, daily necessities and personal belongings will soon be moved into these new homes.

It seems that, as a reporter on the scene, my identity was barely noticed by others, with everyone here focused on one thing -- whether I needed any help.

Trucks loaded with supplies from across the country reminded me of the basic principle that, in times of difficulty, everyone lends a helping hand.

As relief efforts continue and life gradually returns to normal, I stand before the newly constructed makeshift houses, reflecting on the past few days -- a time when I witnessed both human vulnerability and resilience, and felt the warmth and support pouring in from all directions.

No matter how tough life gets, it always finds a way to press on. The road to post-disaster reconstruction is long, but every step is fueled by the hopes and collective efforts of countless people. As the Chinese Lunar New Year and Tibetan New Year approach, I firmly believe that the people here will soon embrace a new phase in life. Enditem