|
On the afternoon of May 12, 2008, an an earthquake measuring 7.9 on the
Richter scale hit Sichuan Province, a mountainous region in Western China. The US
Geological Survey said the quake was centered six miles below the Earth's surface.
Tremors from the quake were felt as far away as Thailand and Vietnam. The quake
not only flattened thousands of buildings, schools, phone lines and highways, but
also destroyed the Wolon Nature Reserve, a centre for research on Giant Pandas.
It left more than 80,000 dead and 4.9 million homeless.
"The homeless are now living in makeshift shelters without adequate supplies.
They are vulnerable to new disasters, including flooding and disease, not to
mention the continuing threat of powerful aftershocks," said a Chinese government
spokesman. indeed, two more tremors occurred the next day, destroying 420,000
more houses in Sichuan as well as in Shaanxi province, hundreds of miles away.
The arrival of the rainy season compounded the danger of severe flooding
from the "quake lakes" that were formed by blocked rivers. These lakes were at
risk of bursting. The most affected lake was in Tangjiashan on the Jianhe River.
Steps were taken to evacuate the people in the affected areas. Meanwhile, channels
were dug using explosives and heavy machinery to gradually drain the water and
case the pressure on the "dam". However, this was hampered by rainfall and the
inaccessibility of the location.
To cope with the disaster, the Chinese government deployed thousands of troops
and paramilitary police to the disaster areas. They had also transported more than
half a million tons of aid by land and another 5,360 tons via air. Some damaged
roads were repaired. The rescued survivors were put into makeshift houses.
Meanwhile 44 makeshift schools were built to allow the affected school children to
continue studying without disruption.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao appealed for people to rally together. "This is an
especially challenging task," he said, reading from a statement. "In the face of the
disaster, we need to remain calm, confident, and courageous." As the death toll
from the quake continued to climb, the Chinese government made a public plea for
rescue equipment as shelter and basic supplies were severely lacking. Meanwhile
international aid cane pouring in to help China cope with the disaster The quake
is the worst to hit China in 32 years since the 1976 Tangshan earthquake in north-eastern China which claimed up to 300,000 lives.
Following the disastrous earthquake, urban planning experts are meeting
in Beijing to take stock of how past disaster responses could guide a massive
reconstruction effort.
Because of the earthquake, the Chinese government has once again found itself
under the world's microscope. Unlike the 2003 SARS outbreak, China's efforts
have been recognized by many experts as having exhibited impressive leadership
and organization. |
