China Provides 80 Million Yuan for Sichuan Landslide Relief
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Synopsis
On February 8, China allocated 80 million yuan (11.16 million USD) for disaster relief in Sichuan after a landslide buried 10 houses and left over 30 missing. The funds will aid search and rescue operations and restore infrastructure.
Key Takeaways
- 80 million yuan allocated for relief efforts.
- Over 30 people missing after landslide.
- Search and rescue operations underway.
- Infrastructure restoration funded by 50 million yuan.
- Emergency response upgraded to Level II.
Beijing, Feb 8 (NationPress) China has allocated 80 million yuan (approximately 11.16 million US dollars) to bolster disaster relief and recovery efforts following a devastating landslide in the southwestern Sichuan Province that buried 10 houses and left more than 30 people missing on Saturday.
Of this amount, 50 million yuan is set aside by the National Development and Reform Commission from the central budget, aimed at restoring infrastructure and public facilities in the hardest-hit areas, as reported by local authorities.
Additionally, on the same day, the Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the Ministry of Emergency Management, allocated 30 million yuan from central natural disaster relief funds to assist Sichuan in swiftly organizing rescue operations.
The funds will be utilized for search and rescue efforts, risk assessment, emergency response initiatives, and investigating potential secondary-disaster risks to minimize casualties, as indicated by the ministry, according to Xinhua news agency.
The landslide struck around 11:50 am in Jinping Village, located in Junlian County within the city of Yibin. Two individuals were rescued that afternoon, and approximately 200 people were evacuated safely after the landslide occurred.
The finance ministry has instructed Sichuan's provincial finance authorities to distribute the funds to affected regions expeditiously to ensure maximum effectiveness.
Considering the evolving situation, the Ministry of Natural Resources has elevated the emergency geological disaster control response from Level III to Level II, dispatching a team led by Vice Minister Xu Dachun to oversee on-site relief activities.
A Level I geological disaster emergency response, the highest level, was activated in the province at 3:30 pm on Saturday.
China operates a four-tier emergency disaster relief response system, with Level IV as the lowest and Level I as the highest.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has also called for comprehensive search and rescue efforts to minimize casualties.
