Iran Sympathizes with China over Fatal Natural Disasters
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman expressed condolences to China over deaths in recent deadly floods and earthquakes in the East Asian country.
In a statement on Wednesday, Abbas Mousavi offered sympathy to the Chinese nation and government, especially the families of victims of the recent earthquakes and floods in central and southern China.
Dozens of people have been killed and 356,000 evacuated from their homes as heavy rain and floods have swept through large parts of southern and central China.
The country’s Ministry of Emergency Management said 9,300 homes have collapsed and 3.71 million hectares of farmland have been damaged during the floods.
It said more than 4,300 people were rescued from floodwaters, which have affected regions stretching from Guangdong province in the southeast to southwest China’s Chongqing on the upper reaches of the Yangtze river.
Meanwhile, the death toll from two earthquakes in southwest China has risen to 13. More than 8,000 people have been relocated as a large number of structures were damaged or collapsed after the quake struck late Monday and Tuesday near Yibin, in Sichuan province.
The first 6.0-magnitude earthquake shook Changning county of Yibin city at 10:55 PM on Monday.
According to the China Earthquake Centre (CENC), the second tremor of 5.3-magnitude hit the area on Tuesday. It was followed by several powerful aftershocks.
Nearly 200 people were injured in the quakes, the Ministry of Emergency Management said.