Sichuan , China — The death toll of the earthquake that hit China in southwestern Sichuan has topped 15,000 as is expected to rise as high as 50,000 people. About another 65,000 people were also injured in the earth quake. That number is also expected to rise. About 3.5 million homes were damaged in the quake. Tens of thousands are still believed to be buried beneath crumbled building and thousands more are missing. Hampering rescue efforts has been bad weather and impassable roads.
Towns close to the epicenter have reported to have been nearly leveled. As more relief and aid workers get closure to the hardest hit areas near the epicenter the death toll is expected to rise even further.
Although this is one of the worst earthquakes to hit China in nearly 50 years, it is not the worst. The worst earthquake to hit China occurred in 1976 in the city of Tangshan, near Beijing, killing nearly 250,000 people. Aftershocks rating 5.8 on the richter scale were recently reported.
Unlike other natural disasters that have recently affected China, the government quickly swung into action sending about 100,000 relief workers and soldiers to the earthquake devastated area.
The Chinese army has begun to air drop relief supplies in many of the affected areas. Other relief efforts have been hampered by bad weather.
Jaipur, India – The western Indian city rocked by twelve bombs that killed or maimed hundreds of victims. This was apparently a coordinated terrorist attack. With 6 bombs exploding within 20 minutes of each other. At least 60 people were killed and 150 others injured. This is the first terrorist attack, in India, in several months. As it stands now it is the worst terrorist attack seen in India in several years.
The bombings seem to have been designed to inflame already aggravated tensions between Hindus and Muslims. In an attempt to thwart the prospect of Hindu-Muslim tensions authorities placed the city under a day long curfew. Authorities cleared the streets and restricted tourists to their hotels.
Similar terrorist attacks over the past few years were also aimed at inflaming Hindi-Muslim relations. But, those attacks were never unsuccessful at setting off sectarian violence.
Investigations into the well coordinated blasts show that bombs were attached to bicycles. These bicycles were then placed near some of the cities most popular areas. A candy store, two temples and ancient fortress favored by tourists were the primary targets. Authorities have detained about 12 people, several of which were themselves injured in the blasts.
Authorities believe that the types of explosives used indicate that Harkat-ul-Jehadi, an extremist Islamic group, based in Bangladesh, may be responsible. Extremist groups in based in Pakistan and Bangladesh are normally attributed for terrorist attacks by Indian investigators.
Some believe that the blasts are linked to a recent shootout between Indian and Pakistani troops along their disputed border area. Moreover the Indian foreign moinister.
YANGON, Myanmar — The United Nations and other aid agencies said they would resume aid shipments despite persistent rumors that the military junta that rules Myanmar is hording relief supplies for the use of the military. Although the Myanmar government has belatedly decided to accept relief supplies from donor nations it is still refusing to allow international teams of disaster recovery experts to enter the country.
The Myanmar government’s reluctance to allow in international aid workers is steeped in their reclusive and secretive nature. There is a long history of international intervention in Myanmar (Burma) affairs. These interventions have been both political and military in nature backed by several governments that do not recognize the junta ruling Myanmar. So the reluctance of the General’s running the governments apprehension is not unfounded.
Due to this reluctance and the apparent ineptness of the government Disaster relief is trickling in too slowly for some of the worst hit areas of Myanmar. Many relief agencies are now warning that due to the lack of basic survival supplies that diseases like Cholera could begin to spread throughout the affected area. If an epidemic does break out the impact of these diseases could claim tens of thousands more victims. It is estimated that nearly two million Myanmar residents are at risk due to the natural disaster.
Further exasperating events. Now eleven days after Cyclone Nargis smashed into Myanmar it is under threat of being hit by another cyclone. A tropical storm off the cost is expected to become a tropical cyclone within 24 hours.
