ACT member, the Amity Foundation, reports that an earthquake
measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale hit Dayao County, Yunnan Province
at 20:28 on 16 October 2003. The worst hit was Liuju Township with
all roads being cut off and the power supply facilities destroyed.
Casualties, damages and needs within the county are unknown at present.
However, preliminary findings did reveal that three people had been
killed and 26 injured. According to the People’s Daily, 12,000
houses have collapsed and it is estimated that the damages could run
to over US$ 60 million.
The quake also affected four other counties, Yongren, Yuanmou, Yaoan
and Muding.
A team of experts from the State Seismic Bureau have been sent to
the quake-hit site to help with rescue and emergency assistance. Meanwhile,
300 tents are being sent to the area along with five medical teams.
Yunnan Province, located at the junction of the Quinghai-Tibet Plateau
and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau suffers frequent earthquakes. A strong
quake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale hit Dayao on 21 July this
year. The ACT Alliance, through the Amity Foundation, is responding
to this earlier earthquake under ACT Appeal ASCN-33 issued on 6 August
2003. Dayao county is a very poor county and coping with another devastating
earthquake in such a short time will prove to be very difficult.
The Amity Foundation has sent a needs assessment team from its Regional
Office to the area and will keep the ACT Co-ordinating Office informed
of the situation. A request for an RRF will be forthcoming.
