Children play around the prefabricated houses in Gurong village of Changsuo township in Xigaze, Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on January 10, 2025. A 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted Xigaze on Tuesday. Photo: Fan Wei/GT

The earthquake relief and resettlement work in Dingri County, Xigaze of Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, is progressing rapidly following the 6.8-magnitude earthquake on Tuesday. On Friday, in Gurong village of Changsuo township - one of the most severely affected areas - Global Times reporters saw disaster-stricken residents moving into newly constructed prefabricated houses, with their living conditions greatly improved. 

Dolma Tsering, a girl in high school, moved into the prefabricated houses with her family on Friday. She told the Global Times that her family of nine was allocated three prefabricated houses, and the conditions are much better than in tents, as they are brighter and warmer. "Our living supplies have been met, and I feel very satisfied," said Dolma.

The Global Times has learned from the relocation sites in Gurong village that nearly 50 sets of prefabricated houses have been set up, each covering around 18 square meters. Despite the extreme cold, with temperatures dropping below -20 C, these houses can maintain an indoor temperature of over 10 C, protecting residents from the harsh weather. 

There are sufficient houses currently in place to meet the immediate housing needs of the affected villagers, and construction is still ongoing to ensure additional houses are available if needed. "If the ground is solid and hoisting goes smoothly, it takes about 10 to 15 minutes to install a prefabricated house," Qi Qi, from the Xizang Company affiliated to China Water Resources and Hydropower Third Engineering Bureau Co., Ltd., told the Global Times. 

Once the construction of the prefabricated houses is complete, basic living supplies such as water and electricity will be swiftly connected. Staff from the Xigaze power supply company affiliated to the State Grid Xizang Electric Power Company Limited were working quickly to install power transmission lines to the settlement area. With the current progress, electricity is available to the relocated residents by Friday evening, the Global Times has learned. 

In Quluo township, the installation of prefabricated houses is also advancing rapidly. Wangla, a police officer from the public security bureau of Dingri Country who is participating in the disaster relief work in Quluo, told the Global Times that sufficient relief supplies have arrived in the town, ensuring that the basic needs of the affected residents are being met. The next step will be to provide additional heating equipment. "Rescue supplies continue to arrive from all over the country," Wangla added.

On Wednesday, the Xizang regional emergency management department said that rescue operations in the disaster area have now shifted to resettling the affected population and post-disaster reconstruction. 

At the relocation sites, Global Times reporters also observed that the focus of some emergency response teams has shifted. In Gurong Village, rescue teams from the fire department, public security, and Blue Sky Rescue Team are working to clear collapsed buildings and assist disaster victims in salvaging their belongings and valuables from the rubbles. A member of the Xigaze fire rescue team said that their primary task now is to respond to the needs of the affected population and assist with the resettlement efforts.