2014-08-06
Emergency Relief for Earthquake in Yunnan Province

On August 3rd, 2014 at 4:30 pm local time, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Zhaotong, Yunnan province of southwest China. According to local media, 589 people were killed, 2,401 people were injured and more than one million people were affected by the disaster.

In response, AMDA decided to send a medical team to the affected area. One nurse and one coordinator left Japan on August 5th and arrived at Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, on the same day. Two members from AMDA HQs met a local partner, Sichuan Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, in Chengdu and held a discussion on how to extend support to the affected people in Yunnan province.

The one of the most severely affected area is located in the mountain and most of buildings and houses are made of wood and thin concrete. Usually it takes one hour and 40 minutes by car from the nearest airport to the epicenter. However it is not accessible by car due to fallen rocks which are blocking the main roads. The People's Liberation Army and local volunteers are trying to remove debris on the roads to deliver the relief goods while they are still rattled by the frequent aftershocks.

>> Archives.