Ludian-quake.jpg (Photo : Reuters)
China on Sunday announced a three-year reconstruction plan for a quake zone in southwest Yunnan, according to Xinhua.
Under the three-year plan, the government will implement reconstruction projects aimed at laying a solid foundation for the building of a moderately prosperous society in the quake zone, with Ludian of Yunnan Province as its center.
Ludian County was hit by a 6.5-magnitude earthquake on Aug. 3, killing more than 600 people, seriously injuring an estimated 124,000 residents and destroying about 80,000 homes. Thousands of buildings, including a school, collapsed. The earthquake also triggered multiple landslides that have blocked rivers and created growing bodies of water that could potentially unleash more destruction on survivors of the disaster.
In a related development, the government also announced on Sunday that it will allocate 50 million yuan ($8.16 million) to disaster relief efforts in southwest China's Sichuan Province after it was rocked by 6.3-magnitude earthquake on Saturday.
According to another report from Xinhua, the money, which was processed jointly by the civil affairs and finance ministries, will cover the relocation of those affected by the quake; care and life assistance initiatives; the repair and reconstruction of residences; and subsidies for surviving family members of those that have died.
The 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck at 4:55 p.m. Saturday, with its epicenter in Tagong Town, Kangding, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, about 37 kilometers from the county seat, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.
As of 3:30 p.m. Sunday, the death toll stands at five and the injured at 54, including six in critical condition and another five suffering severe injuries.
President Xi Jinping, who was visiting Fiji when it happened, directed the local authorities to strengthen post-quake monitoring and prevent secondary disasters, and well as help settle the people dislocated from their homes as a consequence of the tragedy. He also ordered the military and armed police to support and help with the quake relief.
Premier Li Keqiang ordered immediate verification of the damage and all-out rescue and relief efforts dispatched to the site.
