The Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) has
dispatched a team of officers and men for emergent rescue work in
the quake-hit areas of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous
Region.
Meanwhile, it immediately sent the first batch of relief goods
and materials, including 300 tents and a relief fund of 500,000
yuan (US$60,240).
As of press time, 11 locals were reported dead and 34 others
injured in the quake Monday morning, according to the regional
seismological bureau.
The quake, measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale, occurred at
9:38a.m. Monday, in Zhaosu county, the Ili Kazak Autonomous
Prefecture with the epicenter located at 43.1 degrees north
latitude, 80.1 degrees east longitude, some 80 km away from the
county seat of Zhaosu.
The quake was strongly felt in Zhaosu county and its adjacent
areas, and a preliminary survey showed that more than 700 houses
tumbled and nearly 140 houses turned dilapidated and were in bad
shape.
The XPCC incurred great losses in the quake.
Most of the collapsed houses, built over three decades ago, were
occupied by workers of the XPCC from the locality.
In October 1954, the central government ordered most of the
PLAunits stationed in Xinjiang transferred to local civilian
work.
Separated from the setups of national defense forces, the
military units formed a production and construction corps, whose
missions were to carry out both production and militia duties, and
cultivate and guard border areas.
With a population of 2.45 million, including 933,000 workers,
the XPCC is subordinated to the dual leadership of the central
government and the government of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous
Region.
Zhaosu county is located in the bordering area between China and
Kazakhstan, where geological movements are active, and the quake
Monday is the strongest over recent years.
(Xinhua News Agency December 1, 2003)