Rescue & Aid
President Hu flies to Yushu to guide relief work
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-04-18 09:00
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The death toll has climbed to 1,706 from a devastating earthquake in northwest China's Qinghai Province, with 256 people still missing, the rescue headquarters said Sunday.
As of 10 a.m. Sunday, the 7.1-magnitude quake, which struck the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu at 7:49 a.m. Wednesday, has also left 12,128 injured, of which 1,424 are in severe condition, the rescue headquarters said.
BEIJING - Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in the quake-hit Yushu in northwest China's Qinghai Province Sunday morning to inspect relief work.
Hu's plane landed at Batang Yushu Airport at an altitude of nearly 4,000 meters after more than three hours' flight.
The president, who returned to Beijing on Saturday from a shortened visit to Latin America, headed for the worst-hit Gyegu Town in Yushu immediately after landing.
He visited Gyegu's Zhaxi Datong village to inspect disaster situation and visit quake-affected residents.
The 7.1-magnitude quake which struck the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu Wednesday morning has left at least 1,484 dead, 312 missing and 12,088 injured as of 5 p.m. Saturday.
All-out efforts to save lives
China's central leadership urged all-out efforts to rescue trapped people in the quake zone on Saturday.
It is at a critical time for the relief work that requires "enhanced strength and efforts to search every village and household" to search for and save survivors and make sure that no blind spot is left in the quake zone, it was agreed at a meeting attended by members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China(CPC) Central Committee.
Efforts should be stepped up to transfer and treat the injured timely and effectively, and authorities should assist and well settle quake-affected people, according to a statement released after the meeting.
The transportation of relief supplies should be strengthened to ensure the local people can get daily necessities, including food, clothes, clean water and shelters, as well as timely medical treatment, the statement said.
The central leadership also called for intensified measures to be taken to prevent epidemic diseases and rebuild infrastructure.
The leaders stressed that open information about the situation of the quake and the relief work should be released in a timely, accurate, comprehensive and objective manner.
Efforts should be made to ensure social harmony and stability, the statement said. Donations, including those from foreign countries, should be managed and used properly.
Due to the devastating earthquake in Qinghai, President Hu Jintao cut short his trip to South America, postponing visits to Venezuela and Chile originally scheduled for this week, while Premier Wen Jiabao delayed his visits to Brunei, Indonesia and Myanmar scheduled for April 22-25.
