As of 6 a.m. Thursday, 18 trains had been deployed nationwide to carry relief materials to the quake-hit Qinghai province, China's Ministry of Railways said.

Minister Liu Zhijun promised that quake-relief materials will be transported "at the most rapid speed".

Altogether, 750 tents, 50,000 cotton padded coats and 37,430 quilts were on the way to the quake-hit area, the ministry said. And more materials were being loaded, including 24,250 tents, 72,500 cotton padded coats, 35,000 quilts and 203 ambulances.