China - 1/06

Earthquakes in Yunnan Province

Geneva, 22 September 2006

Yanjin and Daguan Counties in Yunnan Province are located on an earthquake belt and have suffered several quakes (two of magnitude 5.1 and one of 4.7, with aftershocks of 2 to 3 on the Richter Scale) in July and August 2006. Although these quakes were not of a high magnitude on the Richter Scale, they were shallow (4 to 9 km in depth) and consequently caused widespread damage.

On 22 July a quake measuring 5.1 on the Richter Scale hit Yanjin and neighboring Daguan county, killing 22 people and injuring 106. The epicenter was in Dousha town, Yanjin County, and seriously affected areas of Yanjin, Daguan, Yiliang, Yongshan. More than 1,400 houses were destroyed and 38,000 damaged in 13 townships. According to the National Disaster Reduction Center, the quake affected at least 38,200 families (153,000 people), and 51,000 people had to be relocated. The earthquake also caused widespread infrastructure damage.

On 25 August another quake of 5.1 in the same area killed at least one person and injured 31 others. This quake was shallower than the previous one, causing wider devastation.

On 29 August, Dousha town, Yanjin County was hit by another quake, this time of 4.7, further exacerbating the situation.

Yanjin and Daguan counties are two of the poorest areas in China, with many living in abject poverty and extremely tough physical conditions. The most-affected are the poor who have houses built simply of stone and earth, which are destroyed immediately in any disaster. The area also comprises high mountains and deep gorges, and most houses in Yanjin are built on hillsides and are therefore vulnerable during any seismic movement. These areas are also frequently hit by series of natural disasters every year. This year alone, there was hail in February and March, high winds, drought, earthquakes and excessively high temperatures. Winter is now approaching, and with communities' own coping mechanisms stretched to the limit, there is an urgent need for clothes, quilts, tents and other relief materials.

Yunnan Provincial Department of Civil Affairs has sent officials and earthquake experts to the areas to direct relief efforts. The authorities have allocated funds and relief items such as rice, potable water, medicines, blankets and tents for the affected population. However, financial resources are limited, and so far the response is insufficient in comparison with the extensive needs.

The ACT member in China, the Amity Foundation, is planning to provide assistance to the most vulnerable of the affected in Yanjin and Daguan Counties. These areas were the most severely affected, and local financial resources are scarce.

Amity, with the help of a partner in the area, plans to provide assistance in the form of rice for 1,600 families, quilts for 3,000 families, reconstruction/repair of 500 houses, 5 school buildings, 4 clinics as well as rehabilitation of 3 potable water sources. Disaster-preparedness training for 5,000 people is also being planned.

An appeal is currently being processed with an estimated budget of US$220,000. We would be grateful for any indication of funding available.