China mudslides and heavy rains delay relief work
Baku, January 5 (AZERTAC). A new wave of heavy rains and mudslides has brought a north western town in China to its knees again today, leaving more people missing or dead.
The disaster has already left 1,100 people dead, and thousands of soldiers and rescuers are fighting to clean up the blockage caused by mud and sludge in roads, making food, water and medicine delivery even more difficult. According to soldiers and residents, rains poured for over four hours over the night, turning a main street in the town of Zhouqu, situated in the mountains of the Gansu province, into a river. So far, 1,117 people have been confirmed dead, with another 627 gone missing throughout the weekend, and another three missing over the night.
"The rain has had an impact on rescue work. It`s hindering the distribution of drinking water," Han Huiping, a 25-year-old firefighter from a nearby town working on the relief effort said. The main route into the town from the provincial capital Lanzhou was blocked, making it difficult to deliver supplies on time. Relief workers were using excavators and explosives to clear the blockages and drain a barrier lake created by the rubble, which could bring further destruction if it bursts. Officials on Wednesday said the risk had been minimised.
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