Chinese satellites join relief efforts after Xinjiang quake

BEIJING: China has applied its Gaofen series satellites to help with the relief work following a 7.1-magnitude earthquake in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, said the China National Space Administration (CNSA) on Tuesday.
Satellites including Gaofen-4 and Gaofen-1 families were deployed to capture images of the quake-hit areas. The remote sensing images of the earthquake hit areas will be instantly shared to the emergency departments for damage analysis, said the agency.
The CNSA will continue to mobilize civil satellites to support disaster prevention and relief efforts, and provide spatial information support for disaster monitoring and decision-making, it added.
Three people have been killed and five others injured in the earthquake that jolted Wushi County in Aksu Prefecture of Xinjiang at 2:09 a.m. Tuesday (Beijing Time).
On the other hand, Following Tuesday morning’s 7.1-magnitude earthquake in Wushi County, Aksu Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the Ministry of Public Security has activated emergency response mechanisms, deploying local agencies to fully engage in disaster relief, traffic management and maintenance of public security.
According to the ministry, Xinjiang’s public security authorities have worked with relevant departments to help inspect the safety of buildings, mines, communication infrastructure, and the well-being of students in schools, ensuring the timely relocation and resettlement of those affected, while taking stringent measures to prevent secondary disasters.
They have also bolstered efforts to maintain order in quake-stricken areas, intensified traffic management and patrols, and provided targeted psychological counseling to the affected people, the ministry said.
In Aksu Prefecture and Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, more than 6,650 police and auxiliary police officers, along with over 730 vehicles, have been mobilized to venture into areas severely affected by the quake. They helped to identify and address various hidden risks, and assist in the relocation of stranded individuals, among other relief efforts.–Agencies