甘肃舟曲泥石流:死亡人数增至1156人失踪588人

ZHOUQU, Gansu, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from the massive mudslide in northwest China's Gansu Province has risen to 1,156 as of 4 p.m. Friday, with 588 still missing, local authorities said.

The toll stood at 1,144 by Thursday afternoon.

More than 1,500 survivors are living in tents or school classrooms while 8,300 have sought shelter with relatives and friends, said Zhao Minxue, head of the publicity department in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture which administers Zhouqu.

Water and power supplies, and telecommunication services in Zhouqu are gradually back to normal thanks to swift repair efforts.

Power has been resumed in the key regions of the county seat and at 60 percent of households, the provincial information office said in a statement Friday.

Relief teams are digging new wells after finding two new drinking water sources and 21 unpolluted wells, it said.

Gansu had received 120.4 million yuan (17.7 million U.S. dollars) in cash donations and relief materials by Friday afternoon, the provincial department of civil affairs said.

Meanwhile, relief workers continued to clear the water course of the Bailong River, which overflowed after being blocked by debris, amid fears that more downpours could trigger new floods and mudslides.

Rescuers tried to give dignity to the deceased as they were striving to search bodies in the debris. But this was no easy work sometimes as many bodies were buried meters deep in sludge.

"All the soldiers have done their best," said survivor Bai Chengxiang, 24. "If they could not find the remains of my aunt's family, I will have to accept the reality."

【相关中文报道】

新华网甘肃舟曲8月13日电（记者张文静、宋常青）据甘肃舟曲抗洪抢险指挥部最新通报，截至13日16时，舟曲特大山洪泥石流灾害已致1156人遇难，588人失踪。

截至13日，甘肃舟曲泥石流灾区已经安置受灾群9852人，受灾群众都得到了初步安置。甘南州委宣传部长赵敏学说，舟曲先后设立了3个受灾群众安置点，已经搭建帐篷123顶，加上一些学校教室等，已经固定安置了1552人。另外，采取投亲靠友等措施，流动安置了8300多人，受灾群众基本得到了安置。