Nation swiftly aids quake victims

President calls for all-out response efforts in instruction shortly after disaster hits provinces

China's emergency response system swung into action on Tuesday to send rescue workers and provide aid in the wake of the magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck northwestern China late Monday, killing at least 100 people and injuring more than 700.

The national mobilization took place swiftly after an instruction was issued in the early hours of the morning by President Xi Jinping, calling for all-out search and rescue efforts, proper arrangements for those affected and further efforts to prevent secondary disasters.

The earthquake — the nation's deadliest in nine years — struck just before midnight on Monday at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometers in Jishishan county in Linxia, Gansu province, about 5 kilometers from the boundary with Qinghai province, the China Earthquake Networks Center said.

The quake severely damaged houses and roads, and knocked out power and communication lines, according to provincial officials. As of press time on Tuesday, the death toll in Gansu was 113. Thirteen others were confirmed dead in Qinghai, in an area north of the epicenter.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has instructed local authorities to rescue and treat those injured in a timely manner to minimize casualties, and closely monitor the situation and weather changes in the high-altitude affected areas to prevent secondary disasters.

He has also urged allocation of relief supplies to the quake-stricken areas as soon as possible, repair of damaged infrastructure such as electricity, communication, transportation and heating facilities, and proper accommodation of the affected people to ensure their basic living needs.

As instructed by Xi, the State Council, China's Cabinet, has sent a working group to the quake-stricken region to help guide disaster relief work.

The People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force have been instructed to collaborate with local authorities to carry out emergency rescue and disaster relief work, and do their utmost to ensure the safety of people's lives and property.

Premier Li Qiang has also issued instructions on quake relief work. He has urged quick assessment of the damage, proper evacuation and rehabilitation of the affected people, and timely release of information.

As part of the orderly relief management, emergency supplies such as tents and folding beds have been sent to the affected areas in Gansu and Qinghai.

The Ministry of Emergency Management and the Ministry of Finance have allocated 200 million yuan ($28 million) to support quake relief efforts in the two provinces.

While 150 million yuan will be used to support relief work in Gansu, 50 million yuan will aid relief efforts in Qinghai, the ministries said in a statement.

zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn