Chinese construction authorities say that Monday's 7.8 magnitude earthquake has badly damaged the buildings and infrastructure in and around south-western China's Sichuan Province. The pressing task ahead is to rebuild homes for thousands of homeless earthquake victims. CRI's Zheng Chenguang reports.
Reporter: Chinese construction authorities say they have so far sent more than 1,300 construction workers together with a large amount of heavy equipment to contribute to the relief effort.
Two teams of construction experts are already in Chengdu, the provincial capital, to evaluate the condition of the surviving buildings.
Jiang Weixin is the Minister of Housing and Urban Rural Development.
"The ministry has promptly mobilized construction enterprises to help relief efforts in Sichuan. We've also sent in badly needed large scale rescue equipment. We will have 48 mobile drinking water generators in place to ensure the water supply. Each water generator can satisfy up to 10 thousand people a day. And we are now producing mobile toilets which will be gradually put into use."
Jiang Weixin also says the ministry will race against time to build a large number of temporary houses so that people will have shelter as soon as possible.
"It is very difficult to build so many houses in a short time. So we have to figure out a contingency plan. We plan to build a large number of houses that can be used for 2 to three years. Also we will provide subsidies for those who would rather live with relatives than in these temporary homes. The exact rebuilding plan still needs further work."
Jiang Weixin also says the intensity of the earthquake far surpassed the designed capacity for all the buildings in the region to withstand earthquakes. But if flaws are to be found in the constructions process of the collapsed buildings, those responsible will be brought to justice.
Zheng Chenguang, CRI news.