2011 Yunnan Earthquake
Damage and casualties
The epicenter was 2 kilometers (1.2 mi) from the center of the county, which has a population of more than 270,000 people and is home to several of China's ethnic minorities. The state news agency reports that an estimate of 1,200 houses and apartments collapsed and that around 17,500 were severely damaged. The surrounding area also suffered through power outages caused by the quake and several aftershocks. It is not known if there were any casualties or damage in Burma. Although there was a power outage telecommunications continued to work after the earthquake. Close to 127,100 people were evacuated from Yingjiang County following the quake, which affected a total of 344,600 people.
China Central Television showed damaged buildings with debris around as police officers directed traffic on a chaotic street. A local reported the extent of the damage to the BBC, saying, "[half] of a supermarket building had collapsed. Three other big buildings nearby were also badly destroyed", and that "the walls of almost all the houses had collapsed."
Small tremors had been occurring in this region for two months and caused damage to many local buildings. A seismologist explained that the strength of this earthquake was enough to let damaged buildings collapse.
Reaction
The Chinese media reported that 5,000 tents, 10,000 quilts and nearly 1,000 troops were being sent to the area to aid the rescue efforts. The Macao Red Cross also offered 200,000 RMB as a relief fund for the earthquake. Xinhua has described the area as a "Quake Prone belt" as there have been a thousand tremors in the area in recent months. There were multiple aftershocks as rescue efforts got underway by firefighters and other rescuers. The Chinese government allocated 55 million yuan to relief efforts on 11 March while the Ministry of Finance gave 50 million yuan for infrastructure repair. The earthquake forced the delay of a planned 180,000-kW hydroelectricity project in the Nujiang River Valley.
See also
References
- ^ "Magnitude 5.4 - MYANMAR-CHINA BORDER REGION". USGS. 2011-03-10. Archived from the original on 16 March 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-10.
- ^ Yan (2011-03-22). "Death toll from SW China earthquake rises to 26". Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
- ^ "At least 24 dead, 207 injured in SW China quake". Xinhua News Agency. 2011-03-10. Archived from the original on March 13, 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-10.
- ^ "Deaths reported in China quake". Al-Jazeera. 2011-03-10. Archived from the original on 10 March 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-10.
- ^ Vervaeck, Armand; Daniell, James (2011-03-10). "Deaths and injuries from very dangerous earthquake in Yingjiang, Yunnan, China". Earthquake-Report. Retrieved 2011-03-10.
- ^ "Earthquake hits China south-west near Burma border". BBC. 2011-03-10. Retrieved 2011-03-10.
- ^ "22 killed in China quake". Times of India. 10 March 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
- ^ Liu, Yinghua (12 March 2011). "127,100 people evacuated after southwest China's earthquake". Xinhua. Archived from the original on March 15, 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
- ^ Jiang, Steven (2011-03-10). "China quake kills at least 16". CNN. Retrieved 2011-03-10.
- ^ "云南盈江发生5.8级地震 25人遇难250人伤--南方报业网". Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
- ^ "Macao Red Cross Offers 30,000 USD as Relief Fund for Quake-victims". Xinhua. 11 March 2011. Archived from the original on March 19, 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- ^ "Deadly Quake Strikes Near China-Burma Border". 10 March 2011. Archived from the original on 26 March 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- ^ "China quake kills at least 16". CNN. 10 March 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- ^ Qin, Qing (12 March 2011). "China allocates 50 mln yuan for infra structure repair in quake-hit Yunnan". Xinhua. Archived from the original on March 15, 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
- ^ "Earthquake casts doubt over Chinese hydropower project". Sify news. Asian News International. 12 March 2011. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2011.