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ChemChina lauded for exemplary relief work
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-06-11 11:22

Faced with the most devastating earthquake since 1949, the staff members of China National Chemical Corporation (ChemChina) have earned respect and praise for their courage, fortitude and efficiency in rescue and relief work.

Right after the sudden catastrophe, ChemChina swung into gear with its prepared emergency response mechanism. The corporation's leaders and workers were fully mobilized to make all-out efforts to participate in the relief work in the quake-ravaged zone.

At the same time, the corporation also contributed proactively to local government relief efforts by making a handsome donation and shipping a large amount of relief materials to the disaster area.

Because of their devoted efforts, the damage wrought by the earthquake could be brought down to a minimum.

Devastating quake

The Wenchuan earthquake, measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale, was the most violent and destructive quake to hit the nation since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

The earthquake on May 12 severely damaged 10 of ChemChina's subsidiary enterprises in western China's Sichuan and Gansu provinces.

By June 3, the earthquake had resulted in direct economic losses of 778.1 million yuan to ChemChina and indirect economic loss 581.8 million yuan.

The worst hit of the subsidiaries was the Qingping Phosphate Mine, located in Deyang city, close to the epicenter. The mine is the largest industrial project in the region.

The earthquake practically leveled the whole mine area, toppling almost all buildings, factories and dormitories.

Some 117 people died in the quake, including ChemChina staff members and their relatives, with 128 injured and seven missing.

The landslide that followed the earthquake cut off the only highway linking the area to the outside world, as well as all telecommunication services.

Worse still, the quake also destroyed the homes of thousands of villagers in neighboring areas, leaving them with no food, water or medicine.

Just five minutes after the earthquake, leaders of the Qingping Phosphate Mine struggled out of the ruins to gather in front of the collapsed office building.


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