UN China Situation Report No. 2
Lushan (Ya’an) Earthquake – 20 April 2013
(as of 23:00 p.m. Beijing Time)
Key Facts on the 7-magnitude earthquake in Ya’an, Sichuan of China
• A 7-magnitude earthquake hit the Lushan County in the city of Ya’an, Sichuan Province of China, at 08:02 AM on 20 April, Saturday, with a depth of about 13 km.
• The epicenter is calculated to be 30.3 north and 103.0 east, in Longmen Township of Lushan County, which is about 116 km from Sichuan’s provincial capital, Chengdu.
• As of 20:20, 789 aftershocks are recorded and at least 51 aftershocks are 3.0 magnitudes and above, including 2 times from 5.0 to 5.9 magnitudes (the highest 5.8m), 14 times from 4.0 to 4.9 magnitudes and 35 times from 3.0 to 3.9 magnitudes.
• According to weather broadcast there will be consecutive rains in the coming days. Experts are concerned about secondary disasters including intensive aftershocks, landslides and mudslides that may worsen the situation.
Casualties, damages and loss
• As of 20:00 on 20 April 2013, 156 people are reported dead and 5,878 injured. 19 are still missing and more than 245,000 people are urgently evacuated. Over 1.52 million people in a total of 69 counties are affected.
• Many local houses are made of wood and earthen walls, almost all of which collapsed in the earthquake. Over 99% of houses in the epicenter, Longmen Township of Lushan County collapsed, while hospitals suspended their work.
• Infrastructure wise, local roads were badly damaged and blocked by landslides and dozens of bridges damaged to varying degrees. Major roads to affected areas are being restored gradually.
• The quake led to a cut off of power and communication, gas and water. Well government is trying all efforts in restoring the public facilities, 86,000 households will have no electricity tonight and communication remains partially interrupted in Baoxing and a few other severely affected areas.
• 3 local reservoirs were damaged with gaps and a barrier lack is under assessment.
Government Response & Relief
• Premier Li Keqiang arrived at Ya’an at 16:00 on 20 April, to guide earthquake relief activities.
• Ministry of Civil Affairs (MoCA) responded rapidly. As of 22:00, 20 April 2013, relief items include 42,000 tents, 150,000 quilts and 20,000 foldable beds as well as 9 trucks of food and drinking water are delivered to Ya’an. Vice Minister of MoCA Jiang Li and 8 members of National Commission for Disaster Reduction has arrived and are co-leading relief efforts.
• The Sichuan provincial Civil Affairs Department activated level 1 response. Province response teams were set up and fast track measures undertaken to allow efficient response and relief activities. Experts are in place to monitor geological, meteorological and hydrological data to prevent/mitigate secondary disasters.
• The provincial earthquake search and rescue team of Sichuan and the Sichuan general emergency response team are now in Ya’an for rescue and emergency relief.
• All together 95 teams, 28, 971 staff including military, police and fire brigade are dispatched to affected area for relief support. Helicopters and scouts are dispatched as well.
• More than 3,000 hospital beds are reserved at hospitals in surrounding areas to receive the injured people from the earthquake. 136 medical teams comprising 982 medical staff members and 202 ambulances had been dispatched to Ya’an.
• Central government has decided to allocate food and cash subsidies to affected population for 6 months.
• From the latest news, National Earthquake Search and Rescue Team consists of more than 200 members with 12 S&R dogs as well as equipment will take a flight to the affected area in a few hours.
UN Response
• UN-SPIDER, in coordination with NDRCC, requested supported from DigitalGlobe to provide high resolution images of the affected area. The request is already accepted and they are scheduling satellite to acquire images which would help assessing damage.
• UN agencies are in coordination with their line government agencies and collating information on damage and loss. In the meantime, the UN Disaster Management Team is in close contact with the Ministry of Civil Affairs in assessing the situation and preparing for any further assistance upon requests.
