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Death toll rises in Kyigudo earthquake

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Survivors of Kyigudo in eastern Tibet earthquake wait for being transferred to the neighbouring cities for medical treatment at Batang Airport on 15 April 2010 in today’s Qinghai province of China. China’s leaders have urged rescuers to make “all-out efforts to save lives” as the death toll of Wednesday’s 7.1-magnitude earthquake rose to 617.ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images/China

Varying figures of death toll are emerging from a powerful earthquake in eastern Tibet on Wednesday, and the death toll continue to rise. The official Chinese Xinhua news agency puts the number of deaths to be more than 700, while exiled Tibetans say the number has crossed 1,000.

On Thursday, Xinhua reported that the 7.1-magnitude quake in Kyigudo in the traditional Kham province of Tibet (Ch: Yushu county in Qinghai province) left 760 dead, 11,477 injured, 1,174 severely, and 243 missing. More than 60 children are among the dead. About 15,000 homes are said to have collapsed and 100,000 people have been forced to relocate.

According to a press release by the National Democratic Party of Tibet, an exiled Tibetan who hails from the earthquake-ravaged Kyigudo, said that the number of deaths from the earthquake has crossed 1000. Tsering Tenzin, a student at Sarah College in the suburbs of Dharamshala, contacted people in his native home who confirmed the figure.

Although the official Chinese television reports only show repeated images of the same soldiers in action for the rescue and relief works, Tsering has learned that Tibetan monks are also taking an active role in rescue and relief operations. Monks from Sethar Monastery are said to be especially active.

There is currently a shortage of helpers and rescuers due to the fear that Kyeku dam may give way, and should that happen, it is obvious that Chinese soldiers will not be able to help anyone that may be trapped.

Tsering has also learned that the death toll will be lower for the rich than for the poor, as soldiers are prioritising their rescue efforts on the elite.

The press release revealed that many houses built by the Chinese government in the earthquake-ravaged area have collapsed due to shoddy construction standards.

Wednesday’s quake happened along the same fault lines as the earthquake in May 2008 in a nearby area that left 90,000 people dead or missing.

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