Quake relief supplies sent to Tibet

LHASA - Quake relief supplies were sent on Tuesday to Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region, which was jolted by a 6.1-magnitude earthquake on Monday.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs sent a shipment of supplies, including 3,000 tents, 20,000 cotton sheets, 20,000 cotton-padded coats, 3,000 folding beds and 3,000 sleeping bags, to the quake-stricken area.

In addition, the regional and prefectural governments have sent 1,200 tents, 20 tonnes of food, 20,000 cotton quilts, water, milk and feed grain to people in the quake zone, said Yang Guoyi, deputy director of the regional civil affairs department.

An initial investigation showed that 570,000 residents in 11 counties were affected by the quake, which hit the border of Zogang and Markam counties in Qamdo Prefecture at 5:23 a.m. Monday.

The earthquake damaged 45,000 houses, as well as multiple highways, bridges and some water conservancy facilities. No deaths have been reported, although 87 people have been injured.

Subsidies have been offered to quake victims who had to be relocated in the wake of the disaster. Each resident will receive a daily subsidy of 10 yuan (about 1.6 U.S. dollars) for the next year.

Some 17,000 yuan has been offered to each household whose home was destroyed or severely damaged in the quake. Families whose homes were not as badly damaged may receive 3,000 yuan, according to the regional civil affairs department.