Floods and landslide - Situation Report 3 - 13 August 2010
General Information
Torrential rains and floods hit China beginning at the end of May 2010 and continued until the first week of August. The Yangtze, Yellow and Songhua rivers have exceeded annual high levels. Affected provinces include Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guandong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Hubei, Shaanxi, Henan, Jilin, Anhui, Jiangsu, Chongqing, Shanghai and Sichuan. More than 400 million people in over 28 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions were affected.
Rain-triggered Mudslides
On 8 August 2010, around 0:00 AM, landslides and mud-rock flows brought about by the heavy rains occurred in Zhouqu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province. The mud-rock flow leveled an area of about 5 km long, 300 meters wide and 5 meters deep in the county seat with more than 2 million cubic meters of mud and rocks, severely damaging power, telecommunication and water supply facilities. The mudslides destroyed more than 300 homes and damaged another 700.
Health Impact
Casualties
As of 12 August 2010, the death toll from the landslide in Zhouqu County in northwest China's Gansu Province has risen to 1144 (from 1117), with 600 others still missing.
Floods in nearby counties (Chengxian, Lixian and Xihe) on 11 to 12 August have left nine people dead and nine others missing. Torrential downpour resulted to new mudslides leaving 5 people dead and 500 others trapped in parts of China's Sichuan Province on 13 August.
Health Concerns
- Outbreak prevention
- Water safety
- Mental health and psychosocial support
Response
The government plans to rebuild the homes destroyed in the Gansu landslide.
Ministry of Health Response
On 12 August the Ministry of Health (MOH) sent drugs and medical supplies to the disaster area. These included anti-viral drugs, antibiotics, oral rehydration salts, medicines for respiratory problems, gastro-intestinal problems, skin diseases and injuries. Medical and personal protective equipment were also delivered.
The MOH is continuing efforts to ensure outbreak prevention and safe water supply. Vaccines and refrigeration facilities in affected areas were destroyed during the landslide. New refrigerators and vaccines have arrived and the first vaccination centre has been set up.
WHO Response
The World Health Organization is in constant communication with WHO China Country Office and China's Ministry of Health, Health Emergency Response Office (HERO) and China Center for Disease Control (CDC) as well as with other United Nations Agencies for status updates and identification of actual areas for support. Preliminary steps have been taken for the provision of needs to ensure the wellbeing of affected individuals.
Sources
- Dr Mukundan Pillay, WHO China
- China Ministry of Health
- Xinhua News Agency
For more information please contact
WHO China
Dr Michael O'Leary
WHO Representative in China
WHO China
Dr Mukundan Pillay
Contact: (8610) 6532-7189 ext: 81284
WHO Regional Office
Dr Arturo Pesigan
Tel: (632) 528 9810
Fax: (632) 528 9072