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EARTHQUAKE REPORT 3 

March 7, 2001

by Pamela Logan

As most of you know, an 6.0 magnitude earthquake occurred on Feb 23, centered at a village called Bawolung in a rural area between Yajiang (Nyachuka) and Jiulong (Gyezil) counties. Up to March 1, seismologists recorded more than 800 aftershocks, of which at least 600 aftershocks were big enough to have their magnitude calculated. The largest aftershock was 4.5; nine others were between 3 to 3.9.

This earthquake involved 30 towns and townships including 10,833 families and 51,964 people. Three people died, seven are still missing, and 154 injured. Damage to property was widespread 273 houses collapsed, 1,188 houses partly collapsed, and 9,682 houses suffered cracks. The earthquake seriously damaged the infrastructure of communication, transportation, energy resources and agriculture, and also damaged many government offices, schools and hospitals. The total direct economic loss is estimated at over 300 million yuan, or 37 million US dollars.

Kham Aid Foundation is working with the vice governor's office to determine the most important needs of the quake's victims, so that we don't duplicate the government's efforts. They have established a relief office in Kangding to receive donated goods and money from the public. In work units and schools, people in the city of Kangding are being asked to pitch in by donating cash and goods to this fund; which is administered by the Civil Affairs Bureau of Ganzi Prefecture. (You will be relieved to know that I worked closely with the Civil Affairs Bureau last year on our wheelchair program, and found their people to be capable and honest).

James Delano, a friend of Kham Aid Foundation who happens to be traveling in the region now, reports "Relief has been arriving by military transport. In fact, on the bus out of Kangding this morning, 5 March, military trucks could still be seen trudging up from the lowlands to Kangding and further on." Let's hope that all of this aid really gets to the folks at Bawolung, and that the soldiers don't trash the place and make things worse.

The Kham Aid Foundation relief fund is now up to US$1508! Thanks so much to everyone who contributed! We're buying building supplies and food with this money, and sending it by truck and horse to the earthquake zone. I'm planning to be in Kangding on April 1 and will have more reports for you then.