Premier Wen Jiabao Tuesday urged authorities from local and
central governments to go all out to rescue the earthquake victims
and minimize casualties in southwest China's Yunnan
Province.
In instructions dispatched shortly after the tremor occurred,
Wen demanded that relevant governmental departments transfer relief
materials to quake victims as quickly as possible.
The supply of water, electricity, communications and transport
in the earthquake-hit areas must also be restored swiftly while
ensuring the safety of infrastructure facilities like reservoirs,
Wen said in his instructions.
Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu, who is in charge of China's disaster
relief work, also demanded that seismological departments closely
monitor for aftershocks and start an emergency response
program.
To date, 500 tents, 3,000 quilts and a batch of clothing and
medicine have been transferred to the quake-hit areas by local
departments of civil affairs.
Provincial Governor Li Hanbai has rushed to the area to
supervise the rescue and relief work.
Meanwhile, army soldiers, armed police and militia reserves
began to arrive Tuesday morning to provide relief and rescue.
By 1:20 pm (Beijing Time), 15 people were confirmed dead from
the tremor while more than 390 people were injured.
The earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale struck Dayao
County, 180 kilometers from the provincial capital of Kunming, at
11:16 pm Monday (Beijing Time) and was felt in Kunming.
The epicenter was located at Tanhua Town, at 26 degrees north
latitude and 101.2 degrees east longitude, according to
seismologists.
The provincial government has also sent two teams of officials
and experts to assess the situation and help organize rescue
work.
(Xinhua News Agency July 23, 2003)