The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit the Sichuan province on Monday may have taken 50,000 lives. It is the worst earthquake to strike China in 30 years. SCA and its Chinese joint-venture partner, Vinda, are supporting relief efforts to help the victims.
In support of disaster relief efforts in the aftermath of this devastating incident, SCA together with its Chinese joint-venture partner, Vinda, have committed to make a joint contribution valued at Chinese RMB 1 million (approx USD 140,000) towards relief work in the affected regions.
The epicentre of the earthquake was in Wenchuan County in the Sichuan province, about 100 km from the capital Chengdu. Severed roads and rails meant that rescue teams were forced to travel by foot in order to reach the worst-hit areas in Wenchuan, and relief efforts have been hindered by both terrain and rainy weather.
Earthquake aftershocks measuring 5.0 and 6.1 in magnitude were also reported at the epicentre, further hampering ongoing rescue efforts in the region.
SCA itself has no physical premises in China’s Sichuan province, and all Chinese staff members are, as far as it is known, safe and accounted for.
SCA has a 19 per cent shareholding in the Chinese tissue company, Vinda. Vinda has five tissue manufacturing plants in China, one of which is located in the Sichuan province’s Deyang city, about 60 km from the capital Chengdu.
Vinda’s production in Sichuan has temporarily been suspended due to the earthquake. No major injuries to Vinda employees have been reported until this point, and no material damage was suffered at the plant.
Part of the SCA-Vinda joint contribution will involve basic need of Vinda staff based in Sichuan, helping two local towns that have been badly hit by the earthquake. The towns are called Mianyang and Shifang, both close to the epicentre Wenchuan. The focus is on coordinating the acquisition and distribution of supplies such as dry food and water to those in need.