Churches in China’s northern Shanxi Province leaked and collapsed due to being hit by torrential rain since October 3.
Recently, Shanxi Province has seen unusually continuous heavy rainfall which caused floods and disasters in Jinzhong, Linfen, Yuncheng and other cities.
As of Sunday, the floods had disrupted the lives of 1.76 million residents from 76 counties, with more than 120,000 people evacuated and 190,000 hectares of crops damaged. More than 17,000 houses collapsed, according to the provincial department of emergency management.
According to Gospel Times, an online Chinese Christian newspaper, Pastor Fan Wanmin from Jiexiu Church in Shanxi said that two dilapidated houses belonging to the church collapsed and that they planned to have them demolished. In addition, the devastated believers could only live in the homes of relatives and friends, as their homes were flooded, living supplies were ruined, and some old houses partially collapsed.
The staff of Yaodu District Church in Linfen said the roof of the church leaked due to continuous rainfall. A rural church in Yaodu District was at risk of collapse with the cross on the roof washed away and the gable falling down.
On October 9, after learning about the disaster in Shanxi, the faith-based Amity Foundation immediately opened donation channels on online platforms, initiating an emergency response.
On the evening of the same day, with the support of local partners, the foundation purchased the first batch of relief materials that have been delivered to the hard-hit Qi County and Jiexiu city of Jinzhong City. The supplies include 15 water pumps, 480 life jackets, 300 sets of rain pants, and 300 headlights, as well as 400 cotton-padded jackets and 300 pairs of gloves
The next day, the second batch of materials, including 2,400 barrels of instant noodles and 48 boxes of ham sausage, were sent to Jiaocheng County and Xiaoyi City in Lvliang City in the evening.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
新闻链接：10月3日以来，山西省内多地遭遇连续强降雨，导致晋中、临汾、运城等多地出现内涝、地质灾害、洪水等灾情。据10月10日山西省应急管理厅消息，山西近期严重洪涝灾害已致全省11个市76个县（市、区）175.71万人受灾，12.01万人紧急转移安置，284.96万亩农作物受灾，1.7万余间房屋倒塌。
10月11日，福音时报同工与山西省介休市基督教会樊万民牧师取得联系。据介绍，介休市基督教会所属的两间危房因连日降雨影响发生倒塌，目前教会计划拆除。另外，部分信徒的家中遭到洪水倒灌，生活物资被淹，一些老旧房屋也出现局部倒塌，目前受灾信徒只能借住在亲友家中。
另外，经与临汾市基督教会同工交流，近期，临汾市（尧都区）城区基督教会楼顶也因连日降雨出现漏水情况。而位于临汾市尧都区一乡村教会也因强降雨导致后山墙垮塌，致使屋顶的十字架也被冲毁，房屋也难以承受重量，恐有倒塌风险。
10月9日，在了解山西灾情后，爱德基金会第一时间开通爱心捐赠通道，并迅速启动应急响应，与当地合作伙伴共同开展救援工作。
10月9日晚，爱德基金会在当地合作伙伴的支持下，采购的第一批救援物资已送达受灾较重的山西省晋中市祁县和介休市。该批物资包括15台抽水泵、480件救生衣、300件连体雨裤、300个头灯等救援设备和物品，以及400件棉袄、300副手套等保暖用品
10月10日，第二批爱德物资也已采购完毕，包括2,400桶方便面、48箱火腿肠等。目前该批物资已发往山西省吕梁市交城县和孝义市，预计当晚到达。
https://www.gospeltimes.cn/article/index/id/58444
https://www.gospeltimes.cn/article/index/id/58456
介休、临汾多地教会因降雨出现漏水倒塌等状况,爱德对山西受灾区施行救援
Churches in China’s northern Shanxi Province leaked and collapsed due to being hit by torrential rain since October 3.
Recently, Shanxi Province has seen unusually continuous heavy rainfall which caused floods and disasters in Jinzhong, Linfen, Yuncheng and other cities.
As of Sunday, the floods had disrupted the lives of 1.76 million residents from 76 counties, with more than 120,000 people evacuated and 190,000 hectares of crops damaged. More than 17,000 houses collapsed, according to the provincial department of emergency management.
According to Gospel Times, an online Chinese Christian newspaper, Pastor Fan Wanmin from Jiexiu Church in Shanxi said that two dilapidated houses belonging to the church collapsed and that they planned to have them demolished. In addition, the devastated believers could only live in the homes of relatives and friends, as their homes were flooded, living supplies were ruined, and some old houses partially collapsed.
The staff of Yaodu District Church in Linfen said the roof of the church leaked due to continuous rainfall. A rural church in Yaodu District was at risk of collapse with the cross on the roof washed away and the gable falling down.
On October 9, after learning about the disaster in Shanxi, the faith-based Amity Foundation immediately opened donation channels on online platforms, initiating an emergency response.
On the evening of the same day, with the support of local partners, the foundation purchased the first batch of relief materials that have been delivered to the hard-hit Qi County and Jiexiu city of Jinzhong City. The supplies include 15 water pumps, 480 life jackets, 300 sets of rain pants, and 300 headlights, as well as 400 cotton-padded jackets and 300 pairs of gloves
The next day, the second batch of materials, including 2,400 barrels of instant noodles and 48 boxes of ham sausage, were sent to Jiaocheng County and Xiaoyi City in Lvliang City in the evening.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Update: Shanxi Churches Leak, Collapse amid Heavy Rainfall
