With snow on the way, quake relief efforts in Xizang step up

Following the magnitude-7 earthquake on Oct 22 in the Xizang autonomous region, and with snow expected on Friday night and Saturday, authorities and relief teams in Drachen county are working quickly to ensure the safety and well-being of affected residents.

As of 6 pm Thursday, 67 of the 76 injured residents had been discharged from the hospital. Nine remained hospitalized, including one with serious injuries and eight with light injuries, according to information given during a meeting of the county's earthquake emergency response command. Sixteen people died in the quake.

Nearly 13,000 displaced residents were taken in at 34 centralized shelters, with 4,278 tents and 4,991 stoves supplied, according to responders.

At the meeting, Zhang Haibo, executive deputy commander of the response group, highlighted the urgent need to complete the cleaning, disinfection and inspection of all prefabricated units and to relocate residents by the end of Friday.

The earthquake caused extensive damage to rural residences.

As of Thursday evening, 9,136 people belonging to 1,644 households had already moved into 2,787 portable houses, with an occupancy rate of 70.4 percent and a shortage of 276 rooms. The remaining 3,828 people are expected to move in by the end of Friday.

In Maru township, staff member Trinley said that all 51 households in the township's No 1 village had moved into prefabricated housing by Wednesday night, with life gradually becoming more normal.

"The village, located at an altitude of about 4,800 meters, is one of the most challenging environments and severely affected areas," he said, adding that all the residents are provided with adequate life necessities.

Tsering Lhamo, head of Maru township, said that weather forecasts predict snow on Friday and Saturday, so it's important to distribute all supplies before the winter weather hits.

Almost all villages have received their supplies, which include essentials such as rice, flour, pressure cookers, frying pans, vegetables and tsampa (roasted barley flour), Tsering Lhamo said.