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Earthquake kills 400, injures 10,000 in eastern Tibet

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A view of destroyed houses after an earthquake hit Kyigudo in eastern Tibet on 14 April 2010 in this photo released by China’s official Xinhua News Agency. About 400 people have died and 10,000 others were injured after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake.Reuters/Xinhua/Wu Hong/China

At least 400 people died and as many as 10,000 were injured in a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that hit north-eastern Tibet with its epicentre in Kyigudo (Chinese-Yushu), according to the Chinese official Xinhua News Agency.

The Dalai Lama and the exile Tibetan community offered prayers and hope that timely rescue and relief work will reach those people affected by the quake.

More than 85 percent of houses near the epicenter have collapsed, Xinhua quoted an official from the region as saying.

The strong quake and a series of aftershocks have toppled houses, roads damaged or blocked by landslides, disrupted power supplies and telecommunications. A reservoir was also cracked, where workers are trying to prevent the outflow of water.

The quake struck the remote region at 7:49 a.m. local time on Wednesday. Official figure of population in Kyigudo is approximately 100,000, which includes native Tibetans and other migrants.

Despite the small population in the region, experts quoted by Xinhua said the quake is very likely to cause heavy casualties.

“It is estimated there will be heavy casualties, as the quake occurred in the early morning and most of the local residents were yet to get up,” Sun Shihong of the China Earthquake Administration in Beijing was quoted as saying.

“The injured are everywhere in the street, a lot of people are bleeding from head wounds,” Xinhua quoted another local official, identified as Zhuohuaxia, as saying.

Beijing has dispatched more than 5,000 rescuers, including soldiers and medical workers, to assist in the relief work.

In a statement issued by the Dalai Lama, he said that he is deeply saddened by the loss of life and property as a result of the earthquake.

“We pray for those who have lost their lives in this tragedy and their families and others who have been affected,” the Dalai Lama said.

“It is my hope that all possible assistance and relief work will reach these people. I am also exploring how I, too, can contribute to these efforts.”

Officials of the Tibetan government-in-exile held a prayer session for the victims of the quake in the afternoon. The Office of the prime minister of the exile government issued a message of condolence to the families of those who lost their lives.

“We pray that people affected by the earthquake will receive timely rescue effort and assistance and will face this tragedy with fortitude,” the

Tibetan Non-governmental Organisations in Dharamshala are organising a mass prayer session at the Tsugla Khang temple for the victims. The exiles say there are 14 dams in the region, and fear that the number of casualties may rise as a result of flooding caused by extensive damage to the dams.

Copyright © 2010 Tibet Sun

Published in Tibet Sun