China: Quake zone suffers rain, landslides

Heavy rains have triggered landslides and mudslides in Yiliang County, the area of Yunnan province hardest hit by last Friday’s twin earthquakes.

Falling rocks are blocking roads, hampering the delivery of relief supplies.

“For those living in the open areas due to damaged houses and fear of aftershocks, the adverse weather is causing increased suffering from the wet and cold,” said Meimei Leung, World Vision’s emergency response leader.

Since the rain started earlier this week, temperatures have dropped significantly.

Two major quakes of 5.6 and 5.7 magnitude affected parts of Yunnan and Guizhou provinces last week. Xinhua news agency reported 81 deaths and 821 injuries. 

The quakes destroyed about 7,000 houses and damaged 430,000 others. Over 740,000 people have been affected by the quakes, according to the Yunnan Civil Affairs Department.

World Vision has sent 1,000 hygiene kits and 113 big tent covers to the disaster zone to supplement government relief efforts.

The organisation plans to aid more than 18,000 people with shelter, non-food items, and recovery activities for children. 

With reporting by Gwen Wong, a World Vision communications officer in China.