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Quake kills 400; destroys homes on Tibet plateau
- Thread starter Ah Hai
- Start date
Int'l community lauds China's quake relief work
BEIJING, April 20 (Xinhua) -- The international community has highly commended the Chinese government for its quick and efficient relief efforts after last week's earthquake in the northwestern province of Qinghai.
Many foreign leaders and media outlets also showed solidarity with the Chinese people and hoped the affected people will overcome difficulties and rebuild their homes as soon as possible.
Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, on behalf of his nation, expressed sympathy for the earthquake victims and sent condolences to their families and other people affected by the disaster. He said he highly appreciated the efforts of Chinese President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and other leaders in leading the disaster relief work. The king also spoke highly of the ongoing relief work in the quake zone.
Tanzanian Prime Minister Peter Mizengo Pinda sent condolences to the Chinese government and the Chinese people, and praised China's quick response to the disaster.
He said he was impressed by President Hu and Premier Wen, who stood together with the Chinese people at such a critical moment and traveled to the quake-stricken areas to direct disaster relief work.
New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully said in a statement that China has a very good disaster emergency response mechanism. Although the earthquake took place in a remote mountainous region, the Chinese government managed to conduct relief work quickly.
He announced that his country will provide humanitarian aid worth some 280,000 U.S. dollars through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
In an article entitled "Never give up," the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun said although 72 hours have passed since the earthquake struck and the best opportunity for finding any survivors has gone, Chinese rescue workers were still making full efforts in their search and rescue work.
The article praised Chinese leaders' quick response to the disaster. President Hu cut short his foreign trip and returned home to direct relief work, and Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, also shortened his visit and returned home, it mentioned.
Another Japanese newspaper, the Yomiuri Shimbun, commended the Chinese government for its quick and efficient response to the quake, especially in giving out relief supplies to the residents in the affected areas.
It also quoted Premier Wen as saying in the quake zone that the top priority is saving lives. "Even when there is only the slightest hope, we will do our best, and we will never give up," Wen said.
The Wall Street Journal spoke highly of the Chinese leaders' personal participation in the quick relief work. President Hu cut short his trip in Latin America and flew to the quake zone on Sunday to give instructions to the relief work, it said.
Locals said President Hu and Premier Wen's visits to the quake area calmed the local residents and boosted their morale, the paper said.
BEIJING, April 20 (Xinhua) -- The international community has highly commended the Chinese government for its quick and efficient relief efforts after last week's earthquake in the northwestern province of Qinghai.
Many foreign leaders and media outlets also showed solidarity with the Chinese people and hoped the affected people will overcome difficulties and rebuild their homes as soon as possible.
Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, on behalf of his nation, expressed sympathy for the earthquake victims and sent condolences to their families and other people affected by the disaster. He said he highly appreciated the efforts of Chinese President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and other leaders in leading the disaster relief work. The king also spoke highly of the ongoing relief work in the quake zone.
Tanzanian Prime Minister Peter Mizengo Pinda sent condolences to the Chinese government and the Chinese people, and praised China's quick response to the disaster.
He said he was impressed by President Hu and Premier Wen, who stood together with the Chinese people at such a critical moment and traveled to the quake-stricken areas to direct disaster relief work.
New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully said in a statement that China has a very good disaster emergency response mechanism. Although the earthquake took place in a remote mountainous region, the Chinese government managed to conduct relief work quickly.
He announced that his country will provide humanitarian aid worth some 280,000 U.S. dollars through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
In an article entitled "Never give up," the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun said although 72 hours have passed since the earthquake struck and the best opportunity for finding any survivors has gone, Chinese rescue workers were still making full efforts in their search and rescue work.
The article praised Chinese leaders' quick response to the disaster. President Hu cut short his foreign trip and returned home to direct relief work, and Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, also shortened his visit and returned home, it mentioned.
Another Japanese newspaper, the Yomiuri Shimbun, commended the Chinese government for its quick and efficient response to the quake, especially in giving out relief supplies to the residents in the affected areas.
It also quoted Premier Wen as saying in the quake zone that the top priority is saving lives. "Even when there is only the slightest hope, we will do our best, and we will never give up," Wen said.
The Wall Street Journal spoke highly of the Chinese leaders' personal participation in the quick relief work. President Hu cut short his trip in Latin America and flew to the quake zone on Sunday to give instructions to the relief work, it said.
Locals said President Hu and Premier Wen's visits to the quake area calmed the local residents and boosted their morale, the paper said.
Residents gather to commemorate the more than 2,000 victims killed by the recent Qinghai quake, at a square in Xining in China's Qinghai province Wednesday April 21, 2010. China ordered all flags to be flown at half-staff and called a halt to all entertainment, including online games and sports events, for the national day of mourning. (AP Photo)
BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu said Wednesday significant progress had been made in relief work in Yushu region since it was hit by a strong earthquake a week ago.
"Rescuers have reached all affected villages, all the injured have been cured or are being treated, all the seriously injured have been transferred for treatment outside the quake zone, and all survivors have emergency shelters," Hui said at a meeting in Beijing.
The State Council, or Cabinet, meeting on quake relief started Wednesday morning with a brief silence in respect for the dead, which numbered 2,183 by Wednesday afternoon.
People felt reassured and the society was stable in Yushu, Hui said at the meeting.
He instructed officials to start planning reconstruction while taking into full consideration the geological, climatic and demographic characteristics of the quake zone.
At a similar meeting on Monday, Hui said the government would promptly draw up and implement reconstruction plans based on scientific assessment and good planning.
The 7.1-magnitude earthquake in Yushu, Qinghai Province, also left 84 people missing, and 12,135 injured.
"Rescuers have reached all affected villages, all the injured have been cured or are being treated, all the seriously injured have been transferred for treatment outside the quake zone, and all survivors have emergency shelters," Hui said at a meeting in Beijing.
The State Council, or Cabinet, meeting on quake relief started Wednesday morning with a brief silence in respect for the dead, which numbered 2,183 by Wednesday afternoon.
People felt reassured and the society was stable in Yushu, Hui said at the meeting.
He instructed officials to start planning reconstruction while taking into full consideration the geological, climatic and demographic characteristics of the quake zone.
At a similar meeting on Monday, Hui said the government would promptly draw up and implement reconstruction plans based on scientific assessment and good planning.
The 7.1-magnitude earthquake in Yushu, Qinghai Province, also left 84 people missing, and 12,135 injured.
China chasing monks out of quake zone, denies Tibetan donors entry
Phayul[Thursday, April 22, 2010 ]
By Kalsang Rinchen
Dharamsala, April 22 – Chinese government has ordered monasteries to recall their monks who have been helping in relief and rescue effort in Yushu County (Kyegudo in the traditional Tibetan Province on Kham) which was hit by a 6.9 magnitude earthquake on April 14, according to the Associated Press. Survivors of the deadly earthquake say the Tibetan monks helped first, bringing food, pitching tents, digging through rubble and cremating bodies.
“Now the Buddhist monks who responded first are being pushed out of the disaster area and off of state media — apparently sidelined by Beijing's unease with their heroism and influence”, reported the AP.
Yet state-run broadcasters and news agency have given scant attention to the Tibetan monks and instead highlighted the hard work of the military and the People's Armed.
Woeser, a noted Tibetan writer and poet based in Beijing, told the AP, citing her Han and Tibetan friends in the quake hit area that the monks were upset and not willing to go but had no choice.
"A clear reason for the order wasn't given but it was very strict," Woeser was quoted as saying. "Local officials told them through translators in Tibetan 'You've done everything already. You've done too much. You have to leave Yushu now, otherwise there will be trouble.'"
Woeser further said local Tibetans were frustrated because they believe the monks are still needed to help dig out the dead and perform funeral rites.
Meanwhile, Chinese authorities in Driru County have stopped 14 trucks loaded with relief materials from heading to the quake hit area of Kyegudo, said Ngawang Tharpa, an exile Tibetan with contact in the area. 18 Tibetan businessmen from Driru County including Drukla, Thukje Kyap, Drotse, Lhadruk and Punkar had raised around one million Chinese Yuan for the relief materials to be delivered to the quake hit area. The Tibetans were told by the authorities that the relief materials must be channelled through the County Administration.
In Sog County, the Chinese authorities have stopped monks of Sog Tsenden monastery from heading to Kyegudo with money collected as donations for the quake survivors, the same source said. After being pressurised by the County authorities, the monks had no option but to leave the money at the County administration.
Chinese government's official figures put the quake death toll at 2064 but exile Tibetans contend that close to 10,000 people have died in the earthquake.
http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=27167
Snowstorm hits NW China quake zone
(Xinhua)
2010-04-22
YUSHU, Qinghai: Heavy snow and fierce winds hit northwestern China Thursday, creating new challenges for quake survivors and rescuers.
Snow started to fall at around 5:05 am in Gyegu Township, epicenter of the 7.1 quake, in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. The snow covering the township was more than 3-cm thick as of 8 a.m. Thursday, said Tsering Tashi, deputy head of Yushu's meteorological bureau.
The snow is expected to stop Thursday afternoon. But more snow is forecasted for Friday or Saturday.
Survivors are sheltering from the freezing gale in thin tents behind the debris of the devastated town, about 4,000 meters above sea level.
Roads to the quake zone are covered with snow and ice, affecting the transportation of rescue resources.
As of 5 pm Wednesday, the 7.1-magnitude quake, which struck the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu one week ago, had left 2,183 dead, 12,135 injured, of whom 1,434 were in serious condition, the rescue headquarters said.
Tibetan monks talk before attending a mass prayer for earthquake victims in the quake-hit Gyegu town of Yushu county, Qinghai province April 22, 2010.
Tibetan monks attend a mass prayer for earthquake victims in the quake-hit Gyegu town of Yushu county, Qinghai province April 22, 2010. The official death toll from the magnitude 6.9 quake that shook a remote, mountainous corner of Qinghai province last Wednesday has reached 2,183, with 84 people still missing, the official Xinhua news agency said.
Overseas Chinese mourn compatriots killed in earthquake
BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese diplomats in overseas embassies and consulates held commemoration ceremonies Wednesday to mourn their compatriots killed one week ago in the devastating Qinghai earthquake.
Overseas Chinese students, emigrants and representatives of Chinese companies posted abroad also joined the ceremonies to express their condolences for the 2,064 people killed in the 7.1-magnitude earthquake on April 14.
The Chinese flag was lowered to half mast in all Chinese embassies and consulates overseas on Wednesday, during which the whole China carried out national mourning activities for the victims of the earthquake that was centered in Yushu County in western Qinghai province.
People paid tribute with three minutes of silence in front of overseas Chinese embassies and consulates as sirens and horns wailed in grief to commemorate the dead and the more than 12,000 others injured in the region.
BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese diplomats in overseas embassies and consulates held commemoration ceremonies Wednesday to mourn their compatriots killed one week ago in the devastating Qinghai earthquake.
Overseas Chinese students, emigrants and representatives of Chinese companies posted abroad also joined the ceremonies to express their condolences for the 2,064 people killed in the 7.1-magnitude earthquake on April 14.
The Chinese flag was lowered to half mast in all Chinese embassies and consulates overseas on Wednesday, during which the whole China carried out national mourning activities for the victims of the earthquake that was centered in Yushu County in western Qinghai province.
People paid tribute with three minutes of silence in front of overseas Chinese embassies and consulates as sirens and horns wailed in grief to commemorate the dead and the more than 12,000 others injured in the region.
A Tibetan monk walks by a statue covered in snow beside a makeshift camp in Jiegu, Yushu county, in China's northwestern province of Qinghai on April 22, 2010. Fierce winds and heavy snow hit China's quake zone, state media said, complicating relief work and bringing more misery to survivors camped outside after their homes collapsed.
UNITED NATIONS, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from UN Security Council members and other countries on Wednesday sent their deep condolences to the Chinese government and people for a strong earthquake that hit the northwestern part of the country and killed at least 589 people.
The diplomats from nearly 40 countries and the European Union offered their condolences to China when they were taking the floor at an open Council debate on the situation in the Middle East, which kicked off here Wednesday morning. The representatives were from the only countries which inscribed to speak at the open debate.
Representatives from Austria, Bosnia, Brazil, Britain, France, Gabon, Japan, Lebanon, Nigeria, Russia and the United States offered their condolences to the Chinese delegation for the 7.1-magnitude earthquake, which struck northwest China's Qinghai Province early Wednesday.
Condolences were also from such countries as Afghanistan, Argentina, Botswana, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, Kenya, Kuwait, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tunisia and Venezuela.
Earlier, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and president of the UN General Assembly Ali Treki also sent their deep condolences to China over the strong earthquake.
At least 589 people have reportedly died and 10,000 others were injured in the wake of the deadly earthquake, local authorities said.
The diplomats from nearly 40 countries and the European Union offered their condolences to China when they were taking the floor at an open Council debate on the situation in the Middle East, which kicked off here Wednesday morning. The representatives were from the only countries which inscribed to speak at the open debate.
Representatives from Austria, Bosnia, Brazil, Britain, France, Gabon, Japan, Lebanon, Nigeria, Russia and the United States offered their condolences to the Chinese delegation for the 7.1-magnitude earthquake, which struck northwest China's Qinghai Province early Wednesday.
Condolences were also from such countries as Afghanistan, Argentina, Botswana, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, Kenya, Kuwait, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tunisia and Venezuela.
Earlier, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and president of the UN General Assembly Ali Treki also sent their deep condolences to China over the strong earthquake.
At least 589 people have reportedly died and 10,000 others were injured in the wake of the deadly earthquake, local authorities said.
Australia and US urge citizens to avoid Thailand
ASIA: Australia on Friday urged citizens to reconsider any plans to travel to Thailand, warning of further violence after an Australian was injured in escalating political clashes in Bangkok.
The foreign affairs department issued the travel warning as it confirmed that a 26-year-old Australian was hospitalised after being wounded in a grenade blast in an elevated railway station late Thursday.
"We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Thailand due to the recent deterioration in the security environment caused by widening political unrest and civil disorder," the advisory said.
"There is a strong possibility of renewed violent clashes in Bangkok between demonstrators and security forces.
"These clashes could involve the use of lethal force and could occur at any time," it said, warning Australians to stay away from protest sites in the Thai capital.
Australian Benjamin Rowse from Melbourne was injured in a grenade blast in a skytrain station and was recovering in hospital from minor injuries, a foreign affairs spokeswoman said.
A series of grenade attacks in the heart of Bangkok left three people dead and scores wounded in the latest bloodshed of the escalating political crisis.
Hundreds of riot police were facing down thousands of anti-government Red Shirt protesters at a key intersection in Bangkok's business hub where the blasts hit late Thursday, triggering alarm in the international community.
Meanwhile, the United States also urged its citizens to stay away from Bangkok after deadly grenade attacks, warning that more violence was possible in Thailand's political crisis.
"Due to escalating violence in central Bangkok, all US citizens should avoid non-essential travel to Bangkok," the State Department said, upgrading a travel alert issued on Wednesday.
"The possibility of more such attacks cannot be ruled out," the State Department said. Several European nations have issued similar warnings.
While the US travel alert pertained to Bangkok, the State Department urged travellers to exercise caution in provincial areas, warning that protesters could take to other parts of the kingdom if dispersed in the capital.
The United States earlier condemned the violence and urged all sides to exercise restraint. - AFP/fa
ASIA: Australia on Friday urged citizens to reconsider any plans to travel to Thailand, warning of further violence after an Australian was injured in escalating political clashes in Bangkok.
The foreign affairs department issued the travel warning as it confirmed that a 26-year-old Australian was hospitalised after being wounded in a grenade blast in an elevated railway station late Thursday.
"We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Thailand due to the recent deterioration in the security environment caused by widening political unrest and civil disorder," the advisory said.
"There is a strong possibility of renewed violent clashes in Bangkok between demonstrators and security forces.
"These clashes could involve the use of lethal force and could occur at any time," it said, warning Australians to stay away from protest sites in the Thai capital.
Australian Benjamin Rowse from Melbourne was injured in a grenade blast in a skytrain station and was recovering in hospital from minor injuries, a foreign affairs spokeswoman said.
A series of grenade attacks in the heart of Bangkok left three people dead and scores wounded in the latest bloodshed of the escalating political crisis.
Hundreds of riot police were facing down thousands of anti-government Red Shirt protesters at a key intersection in Bangkok's business hub where the blasts hit late Thursday, triggering alarm in the international community.
Meanwhile, the United States also urged its citizens to stay away from Bangkok after deadly grenade attacks, warning that more violence was possible in Thailand's political crisis.
"Due to escalating violence in central Bangkok, all US citizens should avoid non-essential travel to Bangkok," the State Department said, upgrading a travel alert issued on Wednesday.
"The possibility of more such attacks cannot be ruled out," the State Department said. Several European nations have issued similar warnings.
While the US travel alert pertained to Bangkok, the State Department urged travellers to exercise caution in provincial areas, warning that protesters could take to other parts of the kingdom if dispersed in the capital.
The United States earlier condemned the violence and urged all sides to exercise restraint. - AFP/fa
Ethnic Tibetans cover themselves with clothes during a sandstorm in the earthquake-hit Gyegu town of Yushu County, Qinghai province April 23, 2010. The death toll from a 7.1-magnitude earthquake in northwest China's Qinghai Province on April 14 has climbed to 2,192, the rescue headquarters said late Friday, Xinhua News Agency reported. Picture taken April 23, 2010.
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