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Nuclear facilities safe and secure, says China

BEIJING: All the nuclear facilities in the earthquake-hit areas are safe and secure, said a senior military officer on Sunday.

Ma Jian, Deputy Director of the Combat Department of the General Staff Headquarters of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), said nuclear facilities had been put under strict protection by forces of the armed police and PLA immediately after the earthquake struck on May 12.

“I could say in a responsible manner that all these facilities are safe and secure,” said Mr. Ma. “There is no problem at all.”

To a question about whether military facilities in Sichuan were affected, Mr. Ma said some of the facilities were slightly affected. The military has conducted a thorough inspection of all the facilities and garrisons involved and found no major damage to the facilities, he added.

Flags will be kept at half-mast and public amusements closed for three days from Monday as China begins a three-day mourning period for victims.

The death toll from the powerful earthquake that jolted Sichuan Province had risen to 32,477 as of Sunday, while the number of injured reached 2,20,109. In Sichuan alone, 31,978 people were killed, with 2,09,905 others injured.

The State Council, the Cabinet, on Sunday ordered a nation-wide display of respect for the dead. The Olympic torch relay would also be suspended from Monday to Wednesday, said the Olympic organising committee.

President Hu Jintao on Sunday told rescuers to use “every available means” to reach every affected village. “We must try every method to send rescuers to quake-hit villages, instead of just working in towns and cities, since a large number of soldiers have entered the quake-hit regions,” said Mr. Hu while visiting Yinghua township, Shifang city. “We must send rescue teams, carrying food and drinking water, to the worst-hit villages, even on foot, as soon as possible,” he said, travelling on bumpy roads to visit one quake-hit villages to another, comforting victims and encouraging rescuers.

“I know you lost family and property. I share the pain with you,” he said, adding: “We will try every effort to save your people once there is the slightest hope and possibility.” Walking over the rubble of a fertilizer factory building, Mr. Hu told rescuers that every trapped person was counting on them and they should seize every second to work as time was limited.

“I truly believe that the heroic Chinese people will not yield to any difficulty!” he shouted in front of the rescuers.

The China Seismological Bureau (CSB) on Sunday revised the magnitude of last week’s earthquake from 7.8 to 8.0 on the Richter Scale. — Xinhua

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