CRI听力:Nepal Quake Death Toll Rises to 20 in Tibet

Saturday's massive quake in Nepal has toppled more than 1,200 houses in several Tibetan counties around the city of Xigaze.

Nearly 10 thousand other homes have been severely damaged in the quake, affecting some 200 thousand people.

Only around 25 thousand have been relocated so far.

Two major aftershocks have rattled the worst-hit county of Nyalam.

At the same time, forecasters are warning heavy rain and snow is going to continue in the region for the next few days.

The Zham Pass, on the border between China and Nepal, has been completely cut off.

CRI correspondent Norbu Tsering is in Nyalam county.

"The road between Nyalam and Zham was cut off. Zham is short of drinking water and food. They are rationing food and water there. Supplies will be running out in three to five days. Personnel with the Armed Police in Tibet are transporting supplies on foot to quake-stricken areas."

Medical personnel in the region have been put on standby.

Ze Yongge, deputy head of the Tibet Regional People's Hospital, says a team of 10 mobile hospitals and 47 doctors are prepared to head into Zham.

"Our mobile hospital is fully equipped to do emergency operations, even with gas and power supplies. The problem is the road to Zham is still blocked and we're fully prepared once the order is given for us to leave."

Some 17 thousand volunteers have been mobilized from the city of Xigaze.

Meanwhile, Gyirong county has seen its electricity restored.

Deputy county chief Yang Qianli says their main focus now is relocating the survivors.

"We have 24 injured people, who are being taken care of by medical personnel from the regional and city hospitals, as well as those from the military. We're done rescuing the injured and are now focusing on relocating the affected residents, including helping them move their property."

The central government is rushing relief materials to the affected areas, including urgently-needed tents, coats, folding beds and sleeping bags.

Over a thousand soldiers from the Tibet military command have also been activated to help with the relief efforts.

Epidemic prevention measures in the quake-region are also underway.

Zhu Zhigang with the Xigaze Disease Control and Prevention Center says initial testing shows the water in the affected areas is safe to drink.

"We've immediately carried out tests on drinking water sources and started work on disease prevention. Disinfection on garbage sites and tents in the shelters were completed this afternoon. Our tests show the water quality has reached the standards for drinking water."

Restoring damaged telecommunications is another priority.

Technicians are repairing the 66 base stations in the Xigaze region damaged during the initial earthquake and the subsequent aftershocks.

On top of taking care of Chinese nationals, the regional government of Tibet is also shipping close to a million-US dollar-worth of relief materials to Nepal.

For CRI, I'm Qi Zhi.