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Chinese Red Cross Battles CCTV In War to Forget Guo Meimei

Posted: 08/4/2014 4:44 pm

guo meimeiThe Zhaotong earthquake on August 3 has left 391 people dead so far and many more homeless. Those that survived desperately need support from agencies like the Red Cross, but the organization is still struggling to overcome a corruption scandal involving a woman named Guo Meimei from three years ago. In a series of recent Weibo posts, the Chinese Red Cross has appealed for the public’s support in spite of the scandal, reports China News, but so far the appeals aren’t working.

Guo ignited a firestorm of netizen fury after she posted pictures of her wealth online in June 2011 while asserting she was a general manager for the Red Cross. The controversy sparked a backlash against the Red Cross and prompted some Chinese to disavow the organization.

guo meimei

The Red Cross admitted that “three years of rumors and complaining may not be enough to clear the debt”, but still appealed to the virtuous nature of the public:

During this late night we have some colleagues who are packing up their bags to rush over to the earthquake disaster zone in Zhaotong, other colleagues have spent the entire night organizing more relief supplies, while other colleagues deep in the plains of Inner Mongolia to screen impoverished children for heart disease are getting ready to go… with so many people and places that we need to focus on, let’s look at the real facts and take a breath. Please forget her; we need to get operational again.

As if there was a concerted, organized effort to do the exact opposite, Guo Meimei is back in the news. On the official Weibo account for CCTV News, there were nine posts regarding Guo Meimei in a 30 minute time frame after midnight (12:03, 12:10, 12:21, 12:23, 12:24, 12:25, 12:27, 12:30, 12:33) dealing with her being arrested for gambling and prostitution-related crimes.

Here are two of those posts. This one is from 12:03 this morning:

guo meimei smear campaign

Gambling, flaunting of wealth, sex trade.
Beijing police have stated as the result of an investigation that Guo opened a gambling parlor and has earned hundreds of thousands of yuan. In 2010, 19 year-old Guo Meimei established herself as a kept woman for Wang Jun. After their relationship ended, Guo engaged in prostitution with contacts made over the internet and in person with each transaction worth several tens of thousands of yuan. An assistant for Guo stated, “There was a period of time when she would bring a new man home with her and wanted me to keep count.

This CCTV News post is the fifth out of nine such posts, published at 12:24 am:

guo meimei smear campaign

How did Guo Meimei get involved with the Red Cross?
“A friend named Weng had purchased a Bo’ai company, and I invested five million and got 10 percent in stock.” As promised by the “godfather” to Guo Meimei, Mr Wang, Guo would become the company’s CEO. In order to better flaunt her money, Guo had her Weibo account show her occupation had changed from “singer and actress” to “China Red Cross business general manager”.

With constant reminders of Guo’s involvement with the Chinese Red Cross, it’s not surprising netizens aren’t in a mood to forget her, or forgive the Red Cross. 

各种妹纸罒3罒：
You’re letting her take all the blame and be your patsy.. Hehe

失心疯了的孟浩：
Please allow me to ask a question: if the all the allegations against the Red Cross are false, then why didn’t the Red Cross report her that year? Why hasn’t the police arrested her? Why is her Sina account is authenticated by the Red Cross? Can all of these questions be explained?

冷血一滴：
Does CCTV have a lack of prostitutes?

夏阳么么哒：
Too funny, are you trying to insult the IQ of the public? Mr Wang didn’t know (Guo was) a CEO? Guo Meimei didn’t know about the Red Cross? There’s no comparison between the two?

高乐高0210：
In three years, the Red Cross hasn’t been able to prove the innocence of one little prostitute?

可儿可恋：
*Falls off chair* Please tell me CCTV, what’s the point of all these updates? I’d like to trouble you to please focus upon the earthquake in Yunnan and other important affairs affecting the county. [sweat.emo]

guo meimeiPhotos: CCTV News, screencaps of CCTV News Weibo account (1, 2)

Haohao
Tagged:

Category 6.5 Earthquake Strikes Yunnan Province, 381 Dead [UPDATED]

Posted: 08/3/2014 6:57 pm

yunnan earthquake ludian longtoushan disaster

UPDATE 10, 2:08 pm August 4: The death toll now stands at 391.

***

UPDATE 9, 11:09 am August 4: A new update puts the death toll at 381.

By individual area, the fatalities are as follows: Zhaotong reports 302 fatalities, Zhaoyang District reports one fatality, Qiaojia Country reports 66 fatalities, and Huize County in Qujing reports 12 fatalities.

The Chinese National Earthquake Department has categorized the response to this earthquake at category one.

***

UPDATE 8, 1:39 am August 4: As of 12:30 am on August 4, the Propaganda Department of the City of Zhaotong has announced that a total of 367 people have died from the earthquake.

By individual area, the list of casualties are as follows: the Zhaoyang District of the city of Zhaoyang has reported one fatality; Ludian County has reported 296 fatalities with 1,591 injured; Qiaojia County has reported 60 fatalities; and Huize County has reported ten fatalities.

yunnan earthquake ludian longtoushan disaster

***

UPDATE 7, 1:18 am August 4: The latest update by the official Weibo account of the City of Zhaotong  puts the death toll of the Ludian category 6.5 earthquake at 230.

221 fatalities are reported in the jurisdiction of Zhaotong, while nine deaths are reported in Huize County.yunnan earthquake ludian longtoushan disaster

***

UPDATE 6, 10:58 pm August 3: According to the National Ministry of Civil Affairs, a revised list of casualties resulting from the earthquake puts the total number of fatalities at 175 with 1402 injured and 181 missing.

By individual area, the casualties are listed as follows: Qiaojia, Zhaotong reports 49 dead, one missing, and 102 injured; Ludian, Zhaotong reports 122 dead, 180 missing, and 1300 injured; and Huize County, Qujing reports four dead.

A major aftershock has been reported in the same area as the first earthquake that occurred this afternoon. According to the National Center for Seisomology, an aftershock rated at 4.1 has struck Ludian County in the City of Zhaotong, Province of Yunnan.

The earthquake occurred at 10:28 this evening at at 27.1 latitude north and 103.3 longitude east, the same exact coordinates as the first earthquake, with the epicenter located 11,000 meters below the surface.

The first earthquake to strike Yunnan today is the first earthquake over 6.5 to occur in Yunnan since 2000. In a 200 km radius of Ludian, there have been 44 earthquakes over category 5 throughout recorded history.yunnan earthquake ludian disaster ludianyunnan earthquake ludian disaster ludianyunnan earthquake ludian disaster ludian

***

UPDATE 5, 9:41 pm August 3: As of 8:42 pm, the road from Qiaojia to Ludian has been cleared, while the road from Zhaotong to Ludian was cleared earlier on, both allowing for the unfettered transport of relief supplies and equipment into the disaster zone.

In the two hours since the tremors started, there have been a total of 107 aftershocks recorded.

***

UPDATE 4, 8:42 pm August 3: A comprehensive tally of fatalities from all areas affected by the earthquake now stands at 150.

As of 8 pm, the Ludian People’s government has verified that there are now over 120 fatalities in its jurisdiction.

In neighboring areas, 26 fatalities have been reported in Qiaojia County with another four fatalities in Huize County.

Additionally, the local government of Ludian has announced that 180 people are missing in its jurisdiction with a total of 1,300 people injured. As well, it reports that due to the earthquake there are 12,000 collapsed buildings with a total 30,000 people affected by the disaster.

Transportation routes, electricity, communications to the disaster area have all been cut off.yunnan earthquake ludian disaster longtoushan yunnan earthquake ludian disaster longtoushanyunnan earthquake ludian disaster longtoushan

***

UPDATE 3, 8:17 pm August 3: CCTV is now reporting fatalities from the earthquake have risen to 34 for the areas including Huodehong Township in Ludian, Qiaojia County, and Huize County in Qujing.

Five people are currently reported missing with over a hundred people injured.

Rain is forecast for the next three days for the disaster zone with heavy rain scheduled from August 4 to 5. Authorities say the weather will hamper rescue efforts.yunnan earthquake ludian longtoushan disasteryunnan earthquake ludian longtoushan disasteryunnan earthquake ludian longtoushan disasteryunnan earthquake ludian longtoushan disaster

***

UPDATE 2, 7:35 pm August 3: According to CCTV, the Qiaojia local government has verified that there are currently 26 dead and 79 injured resulting from the earthquake at the current time.

A girl is said to still be trapped in debris at the Shaba Elementary School in Shaba.

The City of Zhaoqing has announced it is now taking level 3 earthquake emergency procedures while the Provincial Civil Affairs Bureau has announced it is sending 2000 tents, 500 towels, 3000 folding beds, 3000 mattresses, 3000 pairs of cotton clothes to the disaster zone.

Rescue crews are now on the scene. Many buildings are reported to have collapsed from the earthquake.yunnan earthquake ludian longtoushan disaster yunnan earthquake ludian longtoushan disasteryunnan earthquake ludian longtoushan disasteryunnan earthquake ludian longtoushan disasteryunnan earthquake ludian longtoushan disaster

***

UPDATE 1, 7:22 pm August 3: The epicenter of the earthquake has been identified as Longtoushan Township, located 20 kilometers away from the Zhaotong urban center.

Roads leading to Longtoushan have been blocked by landslides of earth and rock.

At 6:07 pm, emergency crews were reported to be only 40km away, and said to arrive at the disaster zone within one hour. Furthermore, the 14th army battalion stationed in Yunnan has been mobilized.

Published pictures of the earthquake zone show an unspecified number of casualties along with wide-spread damage to buildings in the area.

yunnan earthquake ludian disaster longtoushanyunnan earthquake ludian disaster longtoushanyunnan earthquake ludian disaster longtoushanyunnan earthquake ludian disaster longtoushanyunnan earthquake ludian longtoushan disasteryunnan earthquake ludian longtoushan disaster

***

yunnan earthquake ludian longtoushan disaster

At 4:30pm on August 3, a category 6.5 earthquake struck Yunnan

Province at Ludian County in the municipal zone of the City of Zhaotong, reports Sina News.

The earthquake was so strong that it could be felt throughout Yunnan and in neighboring Sichuan Province. Netizens reported feeling the tremors in the cities of Kunming, Chengdu, Leshan and Chongqing.

The epicenter of the quake was recorded at 12,000 meters below the surface.

We will have further updates on this developing story.yunnan earthquake ludian longtoushan disaster

Photos: Yunnan Fire Department (2), China Daily (2, 3, 4), Shenzhen Evening Report, People’s Daily (2, 3, 4, 5), Foshan Daily, CCTV News, Beijing Youth Daily

Haohao
Tagged:

“Storm of the Century” Batters Rural Guangdong With Flooding and Landslides [PICTORIAL]

Posted: 05/26/2014 12:00 pm

guangzhou rain flooding landslides zengcheng conghua

Dubbed the “storm of the century”, the latest in a series of storms that has battered Guangdong Province since the beginning of May has caused fatalities and widespread damage from flooding, landslides, and sinkholes.

This is a series of pictures from Yangcheng Evening Report and Xinhua that focuses on the hardest-hit areas of Conghua and Zengcheng as well as the Township of Dubu and Qigong, and the village of Jiangdong.

guangzhou rain flooding landslides zengcheng conghuaguangdong rural flooding landslidesguangdong rural flooding landslidesguangzhou rain flooding landslides zengcheng conghuaguangzhou rain flooding landslides zengcheng conghua guangzhou rain flooding landslides zengcheng conghuaguangzhou rain flooding landslides zengcheng conghuaguangzhou rain flooding landslides zengcheng conghuaguangzhou rain flooding landslides zengcheng conghuaguangzhou rain flooding landslides zengcheng conghuaguangzhou rain flooding landslides zengcheng conghuaguangzhou rain flooding landslides zengcheng conghuaguangdong rural flooding landslidesguangdong rural flooding landslidesguangdong rural flooding landslidesguangdong rural flooding landslidesguangdong rural flooding landslidesPhotos: Yangcheng Evening Report,  Xinhua/News.cn via cri.cn

Haohao
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15 Dead in Latest Storms to Batter Guangdong, Five Killed in Guangzhou

Posted: 05/26/2014 8:24 am

flooding guangzhou rain disasterThe latest in a series of rainstorms to batter Guangdong this May has killed fifteen people and caused the disappearance of five, reports the Global Times.

A total of 800,000 people throughout Guangdong have been affected by the rain, with a total accumulated precipitation in the City of Shanwei recorded at 628mm.

Sixteen major roadways have been closed due to the rain throughout the province.

In Guangzhou alone, four people have died and one is missing from the flooding on May 23, reports Guangzhou Daily Report. Districts particularly affected by the storm include Zengcheng, Conghua, Baiyun, and Huadu. The estimated loss to the local economy is RMB 700 million; 6,810 houses have collapsed and 206,000 mu of croplands have been destroyed. 220,500 Guangzhou residents have been adversely affected by the storm with some 42,500 people evacuated.

A 21 year-old student of the Nanfang College at Sun Yat-sen University named Pan Jinxiang is one of the reported fatalities. Pan fell into one of the many sinkholes and drowned after the flooding receded. All students were reportedly evacuated on Friday. Classmates say Pan may have drowned near construction performed by a real estate developer.

Other Guangdong urban centers hit by the storm include Zhaoqing and Qingyuan. Storm-ravaged rural areas include some 30 townships. Disaster relief and anti-flooding measures have been initiated by the three levels of local government.

guangzhou rain flooding landslides zengcheng conghuaIn Zengcheng, the 80 year-old Zeng River Bridge (also known as the East Gate Bridge) was destroyed by rising flood waters on May 23 at 7:40pm. Built in 1932, the Zeng River Bridge had been destroyed twice before, and rebuilt three times since. A driver named Zheng Guoqing blocked access to the bridge and tried to warn other people from crossing when he felt it buckling underneath his feet. Minutes later, the center of the bridge collapsed.

The forecast for Guangzhou on Monday is clear skies and warm temperatures with some areas experiencing scattered showers.

The threat of flooding on Monday is focused in northern Guangdong as well as Jiangxi and Hunan Provinces. However, Guangzhou will again be targeted by the storms on Tuesday and Wednesday, mostly in the afternoon, reports Accuweather. Due to the ground already saturated with rainwater, more flash flooding is expected to return.

flooding guangzhou rain disasterflooding guangzhou rain disasterflooding guangzhou rain disasterflooding guangzhou rain disasterflooding guangzhou rain disasterguangzhou rain flooding landslides zengcheng conghuaflooding guangzhou rain disasterflooding guangzhou rain disasterflooding guangzhou rain disasterPhotos: Southern Metropolis Report via Weibo, Guangzhou Daily Report via Weibo, Guangzhou Daily via Weibo, Yangcheng Evening Report (via Weibo), Guangzhou PSB via Weibo, Shenzhen Traffic Police via Weibo

Haohao
Tagged:

Eight Dead as Guangzhou Pulverized by Flooding and Landslides [PICTORIAL, UPDATED]

Posted: 05/23/2014 5:00 pm

guangzhou conghua flooding rain landslide

UPDATE 2, 8:48pm May 23, 2014: Six people are confirmed dead after getting caught in a rain-triggered landslide in the village of Longshi, Heping County, Guangdong. Initially, the incident left two dead, two injured and three missing; however, three victims recovered today had passed away as had a victim taken to hospital.

Meanwhile, two people are reported dead in Huaiji, Zhaoqing in a landslide that also injured three children.

UPDATE 1, 5:20pm May 23, 2014: As of 4:49pm, delays have been reported at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport lasting at least an hour for 64 flights; additionally, 14 outbound flights and 19 inbound flights have been cancelled. As such, an airport blue alert has been issued. The customer hotline for Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport: 020-3606 6999

***

A torrential rainfall has made Conghua District in the City of Guangzhou a disaster zone as a red alert weather warning continues to be in effect for the area as of 2:12pm today.

Wenquan and Liangkou County are among the worst hit areas by the storm with some residents reporting water and electricity have been cut off. The villages of Daxi, Shiling, and Xitou are said to be particularly affected, including Wenquan Middle School.

Many roads have been blocked as flooding and landslides have occurred throughout the area. A landslide is reported to be obstructing a 1 km stretch of the #355 County Road from Jinyezi Hotel in Zengcheng to South Kunshan with both lanes blocked. Elsewhere, flood waters reported as high as 80cm are blocking major six lane roads.

Nanfang College at Sun Yat-sen University has been hit particularly hard by the rainstorm. Several buildings and streets of the campus have been by flooded. Two sinkholes have been reported to have opened up in the school, one taking place in front of dormitory H24. Pictures depict the flooding of dormitories. University students were initially told to remain where they were and wait for flooding to subside, but have now all been evacuated.

guangzhou conghua rainstorm rain flooding landslide floodguangzhou conghua rainstorm rain flooding landslide floodguangzhou conghua rainstorm rain flooding landslide floodguangzhou conghua rainstorm rain flooding landslide floodguangzhou conghua rainstorm rain flooding landslide floodguangzhou conghua rainstorm rain flooding landslide floodguangzhou conghua rainstorm rain flooding landslide floodguangzhou conghua rainstorm rain flooding landslide floodguangzhou conghua rainstorm rain flooding landslide floodguangzhou conghua rainstorm rain flooding landslide floodguangzhou conghua rainstorm rain flooding landslide floodguangzhou conghua rainstorm rain flooding landslide floodguangzhou conghua rainstorm rain flooding landslide flood

This is what the storm looked like yesterday afternoon in Guangzhou, bringing the night to the day:

guangzhou conghua rainstorm rain flooding landslide flood

And here’s a view from Dongguan:

guangzhou conghua rainstorm rain flooding landslide flood

Photos: Guangzhou Daily Report via Weibo (2), People’s Needs of Zhongda Nanfang School Weibo, Guangzhou Conghua Police via Weibo, Nanfang Report via Weibo, Yangcheng Evening Report via Weibo and Jinyang Network, Beautiful Flowers of Dongguan via Weibo

Haohao
Tagged:

Dongguan Flood Disaster to Cost Local Economy RMB 55 Million [PICTORIAL]

Posted: 05/13/2014 5:07 pm

dongguan flooding rain disaster

Torrential rain that has fallen on southern China since May 8 has flooded Dongguan, causing serious damage to the mountainous areas of Qingxi, Longgang, Zhangmutou of Tangxia District.

Flooding in Tangxia, Dongguan is directly responsible for an economic loss to the region estimated at RMB 55 million, reports the Dongguan Times.

Having received an average of 210 mm of rainfall, Tangxia has become a disaster area. As of 10.30am on May 12, 20 communities of the region have been flooded with some 8,000 residents affected.

The reports details 222 houses collapsed and 4 main highways closed, while a total of 10,580 houses and 490 square kilometers of crops have been submerged.

Current reports state flooding has subsided in many of these reported areas.

dongguan flooding rain disasterdongguan flooding rain disaster

dongguan flooding rain disaster

dongguan flooding rain disaster

READ: Rainstorm to Continue as Shenzhen Disaster to Cost RMB 80 Million

dongguan flooding rain disasterdongguan flooding rain disasterdongguan flood rain storm disasterdongguan flooding rain disaster

SEE: A Street-by-Street Tour of Shenzhen’s Flooding [PICTORIAL]

dongguan flooding rain disasterdongguan flood rain storm disasterdongguan flood rain storm disasterdongguan flood rain storm disaster

READ: Record Rainfall Floods Shenzhen [PICTURES, UPDATED]

dongguan flood rain storm disasterdongguan flood rain storm disaster

dongguan flood rain storm disasterdongguan flood rain storm disaster

Photos: PH Eyes.com via Nanfang Capital, Dongguan Daily Report, Dongguan Times

Haohao
Tagged:

Rain to Continue as Shenzhen Flood Disaster to Cost RMB 80 Million

Posted: 05/13/2014 3:12 pm

shenzhen flood Despite a brief respite from the storm yesterday, the forecast calls for more rain to fall on the Pearl River Delta for an additional seven days as Shenzhen tries to deal with the aftermath of its flooding disaster.

As a direct result of the torrential rain that fell on Southern China from May 8-12, Shenzhen has suffered an economic loss of more than RMB 80 million with a total of 25,531 residents affected by the flooding, reports Yangcheng Evening News.

Furthermore, it is reported a total of 2,986 people have been relocated, 10 houses have collapsed, and some 11.97 thousand square kilometers of crops have been destroyed.

Relief efforts to aid disaster victims are already underway.

Two Shenzhen storm disaster areas have seen residents rescued from potentially dangerous flooding.

A landslide occurred next to the Zhuguang Society Chuanbao Building on Taoyuan Street in Nanshan District in which 100 people were relocated.

Elsewhere, some 230 people were relocated when a low-lying area at Pinghu Street and Bantian Street in Longgang District became flooded.

Rain is expected to continue until May 19, with heavy showers giving way to moderate showers.

Service on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen high-speed railway resumed normal operations as of May 12.

Other Guangdong cities hit hard by the rainstorm include Zhongshan and Jiangmen, as have the provinces of Hunan and Jiangxi, leading to some half a million people stricken by the disaster.

shenzhen floodPhotos: China Daily

Haohao
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