BEIJING, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) — The quick and efficient response to the 6.8-magnitude earthquake in Xizang attests to China’s good governance and its tenet of putting the people and their lives first.
Shortly after the quake rocked Dingri County on Jan. 7, President Xi Jinping ordered all-out rescue efforts to save lives and minimize casualties. A meeting of the central authorities called for making utmost efforts to treat the injured, working hard to meet the basic living needs of those affected, and accelerating post-disaster recovery and reconstruction.
The mobilization of personnel and resources was done as quickly as possible to save every life and provide warm shelters for residents displaced by the quake, which left 126 people dead and 337 injured. The speed and efficiency of the rescue efforts have ensured the safety of people’s lives and property to the greatest extent.
The rapid response was impressive. Within 10 minutes of the quake, rescue planes were in the sky; in less than half an hour, rescue operations were carried out in the epicenter area. Nine hours after the quake, all damaged road sections were repaired and ready for traffic, and mobile communication signals were restored.
On the first night after the earthquake, affected people were moved to tents and provided with hot meals.
The efficient relief operations reflect the huge improvements in Xizang’s infrastructure, ranging from roads, power to telecommunications, as well as the good governance in Xizang.
The region upgraded its emergency response to the highest level on the first day of the quake. Helicopters were used in transporting some injured residents. In one case, local authorities arranged for a helicopter to transfer a five-year-old girl seriously injured in the quake from Xigaze City to the regional capital Lhasa — a 237-km-long journey which took one hour and seven minutes, saving time for treatment.
Besides funds and materials allocated by multiple ministries and departments, Xizang received aid from across the country, including a medical team from Shanghai, a batch of donated platelets and 50 tonnes of Tibetan tea from neighboring Sichuan Province. A number of monasteries and temples both in and outside Xizang offered donations.
With the support of the central authorities and the whole country, Xizang has achieved remarkable achievements over the past decades, including eliminating absolute poverty. Highways, railways, and airports have linked the border region in southwest China more closely with the rest of the country, allowing help to roll in from all quarters.
With strong nationwide support, those affected by the quake will have their homes repaired or rebuilt and resume living normal lives as soon as possible. Xizang will continue its march towards modernization along with the whole nation.
