At least 1,060 critically injured survivors had been taken out of quake-hit Yushu in northwest China's Qinghai Province to hospitals with better medical conditions by Friday, said an official with the Ministry of Health.

"Considering the poor state of local hospitals, most of the critically injured in the quake must be transferred out," said Wang Yu at a press conference held by the Information Office of the State Council.

Wang said 631 people were taken to hospitals in the provincial capital, Xining, 206 to Chengdu, capital of neighboring Sichuan Province, 128 were to Lanzhou, capital of neighboring Gansu Province, and the rest to Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province.

"We have coordinated with hospitals in Xining to reserve 2,000 beds, as well as 500 in Chengdu, 500 in Lanzhou and 100 in Xi'an," Wang said.