Authorities Enhance Support for Earthquake Survivors in Xizang Region

Following the devastating earthquake in the Xizang autonomous region, officials are prioritizing the welfare of survivors by offering transitional housing solutions. Wei Jun, deputy director of the region's emergency management department, announced during a press conference in Lhasa that a total of 13,000 prefabricated homes have been acquired, with more than 6,135 delivered to those in need and over 5,152 currently occupied. The transportation of the remaining units is ongoing.

The local government and ruling Party committee are dedicated to ensuring safe resettlement for those impacted by the earthquake. They are conducting thorough inspections to identify any potential safety hazards and safeguard the belongings of affected individuals. Wei highlighted that an assessment of the disaster's impact has been swiftly executed, with measures in place to support the community throughout the harsh winter.

High altitude and low temperatures pose additional challenges for the earthquake victims, prompting the region's earthquake relief headquarters to promptly deliver various aid materials. Recent statistics reveal substantial donations, including over 9,525 electric stoves, more than 40,000 electric blankets, 759 metric tons of fuel, and over 259,700 blankets, along with an abundance of clothing and food supplies.

Efforts to ensure safety in the affected areas are being taken seriously, with the department of natural resources completing geological hazard inspections across 76 towns in seven earthquake-affected counties, identifying a total of 1,851 hazardous locations. Simultaneously, the housing and urban-rural development department enlisted 123 institutions with 557 experts to assess 30,057 rural and public structures for safety.

The fire and rescue department has facilitated 1,418 mobile fire inspections at resettlement sites, uncovering 2,206 fire hazards, of which 1,901 have been addressed. Inspectors from transportation units are also assessing infrastructure, including 900 bridges, 47 tunnels, and a vast road network, while water resource departments are checking 14 reservoirs, noting issues in five of them.

Amidst these relief operations, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and armed police managed to recover significant assets, including over 464,100 yuan (approximately $63,000) in cash and numerous valuable items. The local public security department has salvaged more than 34,600 items, and firefighters, along with rescue teams, have cleared multiple debris sites, recovering over 60,000 items and 3.24 million yuan in cash.

Latest reports from the civil affairs department indicate that donations have reached 1.64 billion yuan, encompassing both monetary contributions and materials from various sectors of society, further underscoring the community's commitment to supporting earthquake survivors.