China, Tibet and Nepal: natural disasters

Three natural disasters have struck Nepal and China this week. In Nepal a massive landslide north east of Kathmandu threatening the dam and many villages depending on actions and monsoon rain.

This is a common problem, but affecting thousands. So far 10 dead, but 150 missing and thousands evacuated. Rescuers expected the death toll to rise as many homes were buried by the landslide or submerged by the rising water. Nepal’s Home Ministry ordered the army to help remove the blockade and release the water, and prepare for a disaster if the walls of the newly formed lake burst. The immediate threat was flash floods in the Sindhupalchowk area as the water there had already formed a 3km long lake.

A 5.0-magnitude earthquake jolted Xigatze(Shigatse) in Tibet.
The epicenter was monitored at 29.0 degrees north latitude and 85.5 degrees east longitude with a depth of 10 km, according to the CENC.

In China an earthquake has struck, 381 dead in last count and 1,800 injured. Epicenter is close to Zhaotong, Yunnan, which is south of the middle between Chengdu (500km) and Kunming (350km). Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is en route to the quake region to supervise disaster relief work. Xinhua reported that 12,000 houses had been destroyed and about 30,000 damaged. The strong quake struck at 4:30 p.m. Sunday (Beijing Time) with a depth of 12 km. The epicenter is in Longtoushan Township, 23 km southwest of the county seat of Ludian.

Pray for these nations as people seek to make sense of these natural disasters and often see God as displeased with them. Pray that in their search for meaning they might be drawn to God. And pray for the Church to respond with love and care.