Residents of Chengdu in Sichuan, China have taken to social media to criticise authorities for prioritising ‘Zero-COVID’ lockdown protocols even in the face of a 6.8 magnitude earthquake that has already killed at least 74 people.
The earthquake’s epicentre was 125 miles (226 kilometres) from Chengdu in a mountainous region at Luding county, where the tectonic plates meet near the Tibetan Plateau.
It is China’s most severe earthquake since the 7.9 magnitude earthquake in Sichuan in 2008 that killed over 90,000 and caused widespread infrastructural damage.
The natural disaster has disrupted power and damaged buildings in Moxi, where many houses are made from wood and brick, making them vulnerable to earthquakes. 248 people have been injured and 16 are missing.
China 🇨🇳
— James Melville (@JamesMelville) September 7, 2022
Residents in earthquake-hit Chengdu were prevented from fleeing their compounds due to a Covid lockdown. They were told to stay in accommodation at risk of collapsing from an earthquake, but at least they stayed safe from catching Covid. 🤡 🌍 https://t.co/wCmDYf4Hi7
It has also caused landslides that have left hundreds of residents stranded and blocked highways.
According to the Xinhua News Agency, authorities have set up temporary shelters for 50,000 people whose houses were destroyed or vulnerable to the earthquake.
Furthermore, 1,900 security personnel have been deployed to facilitate rescue operations. Chengdu’s state-run power company State Grid also declared that power was restored to 20,000 households overnight.
Chinese President Xi Jinping declared that local authorities must prioritise rescue efforts in Sichuan.
However, video footage shows government workers wearing protective gear and preventing residents from leaving even after the earthquake shook several buildings in the city. Additionally, residents shared screenshots of building managers barring residents from leaving the premises of their residential compounds.
I thank all the friends for your solidarity and support for the quake-stricken Luding, Sichuan. After the earthquake, the Chinese government and relevant departments are acting swiftly to save lives, minimize casualties and resettle the affected. pic.twitter.com/bYgXO8PX1s
— Zhang Jun (@ChinaAmbUN) September 7, 2022
Local video footage shows residents pleading with building managers to be let out but being refused because their building had not yet collapsed. Some social media users claimed that residence managers had locked their buildings to prevent anyone from leaving.
On Tuesday, China reported 1,499 cases of new COVID-19 infections, most of which were asymptomatic. The Sichuan province accounted for 138 of these cases.
Amid public backlash, Chengdu’s health authorities clarified that protecting residents from emergencies such as earthquakes and floods must be prioritised over COVID-19 protocols.
Yet, Chengdu remains under one of the most severe lockdowns, with at least one district maintaining a ban on ordering meals and coffee. Of the city’s 21.2 million residents, 16 million are under lockdown.
Deeply saddened by the loss of precious lives as a result of the earthquake in #Sichuan, China. We offer our profound condolences and most sincere sympathies to the bereaved families and stand by the government and people of 🇨🇳 in this tragedy.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) September 5, 2022
In fact, just last Thursday, authorities ordered residents to stay at home until Sunday, allowing only one member per household to step out to purchase essentials. On Monday, the lockdown was extended due to a surge in cases.
The government has attempted to portray a false sense of normalcy to ease economic strains. Central leaders, including Premier Li Keqiang, attended meetings with local leaders and the public without a mask.
Community Party leaders have been accused of imposing the restrictions despite having little information about the local conditions, with harsh lockdowns trapping tens of millions of citizens in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Guizhou.
Since the outbreak in Wuhan in 2019, China has sworn by a strict ‘Zero-COVID’ policy that mandates regular testing, quarantines, masks, and lockdowns. This is against the advice of the World Health Organisation that has led several countries to slowly return to normalcy.