WHO : Earthquake in Province Situation Report No. 4 21 April 2010

GENERAL SITUATION (update):

7.1-magnitude earthquake hit Yushu County in Qinghai Province, China on 14 April 2010, 7:49 AM local time (2349 GMT) with a depth of 10 km; 15 000 residential buildings destroyed.

21 April reports state the earthquake has now left 2, 064 dead (up from 1,706 as of 19 April), 175 missing (down from 256 as of 19 April) and 12,135 injured of which 1,434 were in serious condition.

According to the Central Meteorological Observatory of China, it hailed for 17 minutes in Jiegu Town of Yushu from 12:40 on 20 April. Instantaneous gusts can be very strong which will have impact on disaster relief and transportation.

THE AFFECTED PEOPLE

Preliminary investigation shows that an area of 30,000 square kilometres was affected by the Yushu Earthquake. 100,000 people in 12 townships were affected. By 17:00 April 18, the MOH reported that 9,138 injured people were treated; 1,962 were transferred, of whom 1,200 to , 23 to Hainan Prefecture, 177 to Golmud, 95 to Xi'an, 167 to , 284 to , and 16 to Changdu, .

PUBLIC HEALTH SITUATION & NEEDS

In Jiegu, the most stricken area in the earthquake, 90% houses collapsed and a big number of domesticated Tibetan mastiffs have become stray dogs. Rough estimates by health authorities indicate that there have been over 10 injuries caused by Tibetan mastiffs. Health authorities in the earthquake area have urgently allocated 200 rabies vaccines from Xining, the capital city of Qinghai Province.

In Jiegu local people rely on external drinking water sources. Consequently, three wells are expected to be dig within one week.

Water safety is one of the main concerns for the relief work in quake zone as health relief workers monitor water quality. The Zhaqu River is one of the main branches of the headwaters of three major rivers. This health worker tests the water quality every morning. "About 20,000 people drink water from this river and the testing result today is that all the indexes fulfill the standards of drinking water."

Ministry of Health and the Chinese Disabled Persons' Federation highlighted on 20 April, the need for organize rehabilitation experts to go to Qinghai, Tibet, Shaanxi and Provinces and assist the rehabilitation of the wounded who have been referred to hospitals in these provinces. Their responsibilities would include: guiding these provinces in early rehabilitation of wounded, assist in formulating local rehabilitation programming and work plans; consultations for

rare, complicated, or severe cases as well as on ways to improve the rehabilitation and treatment outcomes; lastly, train local rehabilitation specialists and other medical staff.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

The international community continues to extend condolences to China over earthquake.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

21 April has been marked as a national day of mourning for the victims of the earthquake in northwest China's Qinghai Province. The State Council of China decided that all national flags will fly at half-mast in China and abroad in all embassies and consulates. No public entertainment is to be held on today.

A TV charity show on Tuesday evening raised 2.175 billion yuan (about 319 million U.S. dollars) in donations for the Tibetan of Yushu,

As to authentic sources of official information, MoH suggested we use the official MoH website and the website Xinhua News Agency.

WHO RESPONSE

The Event Management Group of WPRO is closely coordinating with WHO office in China as to the situation and the needs for possible support. CSR is supporting WCO in assisting the MOH for risk assessment.

The WHO Country Office in China successfully delivered to MoH the high altitude drug Acetazolamide (1500 Tablets) which will be used to support them in their rescue operations. Numerous articles related to rescue work in high altitudes continue to be forwarded to China CDC for reference. WHO requested MoH to forward any updated information including videos, photo and reports to WHO in order for WHO to be prepared for effective and immediate response.

Sources

• Ministry of Health official website, www.moh.gov.cn • Xinhua News Agency, www.xinhua.org • Relief Web, www.reliefweb.int

For more information please contact:

WHO China Dr Michael O'Leary WHO Representative in China Email: [email protected]

WHO China Dr Mukundan Pillay Contact: (8610) 6532-7189 ext:81284 Email: [email protected]