Relief work begins after Xinjiang earthquake
Print Edition
AN earthquake that struck China’s far-western region of Xinjiang on Wednesday affected more than 7,800 people, but no casualties have been reported.
The epicenter, in a sparsely populated area, was more than 50 kilometers from the nearest settlement, Aqqan in Yutian County, Hotan Prefecture.
By 11am yesterday, 7,838 residents in six counties of Hotan had been affected by the 7.3-magnitude quake, with 982 relocated to safety, the regional civil affairs department said.
The jolt toppled 157 houses and damaged 3,297 others.
As of 1pm yesterday, a total of 811 aftershocks had been monitored in Yutian, with the biggest measuring 5.7 in magnitude.
Two rescue teams have arrived in the Aqqan villages of Pixka and Pulu but rescuers said aftershocks and poor conditions on mountain roads were hindering relief efforts.
Meanwhile, 14 medical workers have reached quake-hit areas.
Xinjiang started a quake-resistant housing project in 2004.
The vast majority of rural residents in Hotan, including Aqqan, are living in quake-resistant buildings, said Zhang Zhide, director of the prefecture’s seismological bureau.
“Mountainous areas located near an active fault zone were given priority in our construction plan years ago,” Zhang said.
In Pixka Village, 181 out of 183 households are living in quake-proof buildings, which remained almost completely intact after the jolt.
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