Monday, July 07, 2008
   
 
  blogs  
 
yournews
   
Video Finance Features Weather Travel Discussion TV Shows
CNA Live    | About Us 
 
  Home ›
 
Singapore News

 
 

No reports of Singaporeans injured in China quake
Posted: 12 May 2008 2214 hrs

 
 
Photos  of

   
 


Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said so far there has been no reports of any Singaporean being injured in China's earthquake on Monday.

In response to media queries, MFA said it was closely monitoring the situation in Sichuan Province after it was struck by a 7.8 magnitude quake in the afternoon.

It said, "Our Missions have been in touch with the Chinese authorities, and will continue to establish contact with the Singaporean community in the affected areas."

A Singaporean who works at the China World Trade Center in Beijing called MediaCorp to share his experience of the quake.

Mr Philip Loh said he heard an "explosion" at about 2.30pm, but no action was taken by authorities as they had assumed the noise came from a nearby construction site.

However, when they heard a second "explosion" moments later and the building shook, everyone was evacuated from the office towers, he said. Mr Loh added that no one was hurt and work resumed half an hour later, at about 3pm.

Channel NewsAsia checked with several travel agencies and found that Singaporean tour groups in the affected areas are also safe. They said they felt the tremors, but were not in any danger.

One of the tour agencies said it would continue with its tours, but may change some of the routes.

Agencies whose tour groups were supposed to return on Monday said flights have been delayed as airports in Sichuan are closed. They are expected to return on Tuesday.

An engineering expert told Channel NewsAsia this is one of the worst earthquakes in the area for the past hundred years - and he expects the death toll to rise.

Professor Pan Tso-Chien, Dean, College of Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, said: "I wouldn't be completely surprised if there are more fatalities reported, as we discover more, as we go into more places with buildings that have collapsed, or roads which have blocked that we cannot get in.

"And by counting the numbers, I have a hunch that the numbers would climb. And as time goes, it may climb even faster before we reach the area." - CNA/al

 

 



Other singapore News
Orange Ribbon Celebrations mark racial harmony in Singapore
Outstanding young S'poreans honoured at youth award ceremony
MHA says no intelligence or info to suggest Mas Selamat is in Indonesia
Measures to manage traffic congestion are about trade-offs
PA Water-Venture centre opens at Sembawang Beach
Top tourist spots recognised for manpower development efforts
Local filmmakers include more Chinese dialects in recent works
'Uniquely Singapore' placed 7th overall in clipper race
Some 2,000 people participate in fundraising event at Botanic Gardens
10,000 participate in Citi-MILK Run to raise funds
Korean artist's novel work on display in Singapore
500 people go bald to raise money for children with cancer

 


Advertisements

 
Affiliate Sites:
 
About Us  |  Contact Us  |  Advertise with Us  |  Terms & Conditions