China Warns of Post-quake Hardship as Winter Nears
Survivors of the May 12 earthquake in Sichuan province face another challenge with the approach of winter. Reuters reports on Premier Wen Jiabao’s visit to the region:
During a visit on Tuesday marking 110 days since the tremor flattened towns and villages in Sichuan province, Wen said the number of people known to have died in the disaster had passed 80,000, the People’s Daily reported on Wednesday.
The government has poured in troops and aid to help survivors, many living in tents and flimsy temporary homes, but Wen warned reviving the mountainous region would take a long time.
Asked what the most pressing tasks were, Wen said repairing or replacing damaged and collapsed homes and rebuilding roads.
Read also “Quake-hit county in SW China delays re-opening of schools” from Xinhua.
