Relief Efforts

58 saved from rain-triggered mudslides in NW China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-08-09 07:11

Local people try to evacuate a child to safe places at Zhouqu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 8, 2010. At least 127 people have been confirmed dead, and nearly 2,000 others are still missing after the mudslides triggered by torrential rains in Zhouqu County, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. [Xinhua]

BEIJING - Firefighters sent by the Ministry of Public Security have saved 58 people from rain-triggered landslides in Zhouqu County of northwest China's Gansu Province as of 8:30 pm Sunday, according to the ministry.

The fire bureau under the ministry had mobilized a total of 1,180 fire fighters and officers, along with rescue equipment such as life detectors and rubber rafts, to the disaster-hit area from Gansu and neighboring Sichuan Province and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

Meanwhile, another 450 firefighters from the three regions were ready to join the rescue work.

The ministry has ordered traffic control at major roads leading to the mudslides-hit areas to keep the roads smooth for rescue vehicles, reminding individual volunteers trying to help not to drive there by themselves.

By 5 p.m., China's air force has sent three helicopters, two air mapping aeroplanes and a cargo-transport plane from Beijing to an airport in Gansu's Tianshui city, the nearest one to Zhouqu.

Ten more cargo planes are ready to send personnel and relief materials to the disaster-hit area, according to the air force authorities.