- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Two Russian aid planes to leave for China Monday

Subscribe
Another two Russian aircraft will deliver humanitarian aid to southwest China, which was devastated by an earthquake May 12, the Russian Emergencies Ministry said on Monday.
BEIJING, May 19 (RIA Novosti) - Another two Russian aircraft will deliver humanitarian aid to southwest China, which was devastated by an earthquake May 12, the Russian Emergencies Ministry said on Monday.

The quake, measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale, affected eight provinces, with Sichuan suffering the bulk of the devastation. Around 34,000 people have been confirmed dead, with over 245,000 injured and a further 71,000 unaccounted for.

"The ministry is planning to send two planes to China on Monday evening to deliver humanitarian aid and a mobile field hospital," a ministry spokesperson said.

The ministry representative added that the cargo will include tents, blankets and medication. Medics will also travel to the region to assist in treating the thousands of injured.

Five Russian airplanes have delivered over 115 tons of humanitarian cargo, rescuers and medics to the provincial center of Chengdu since May 14.

Last Monday's quake was the worst to hit the country in more than three decades. Xinhua news agency quoted a Sichuan official as saying that the death toll could rise to 70,000 as many people remain buried under the rubble and the relief operation is being hindered by continuing aftershocks, heavy rain and landslides.

Direct economic losses from the quake are estimated at about 67 billion yuan ($9.6 billion) in the Sichuan province alone, Xi Guohua, a Chinese vice minister of industry and information technology, said on Monday.

Three days of national mourning started in China on Monday.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала