The Communist Party of China (CPC) discipline watchdog has ordered its officials of all levels to step up monitoring and inspection on disaster relief work in the country's northwestern Qinghai Province.

Inspectors should ensure local authorities were fully implementing central government disaster relief policies, according to a circular issued by the discipline watchdog of the CPC Friday.

The CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and the Ministry of Supervision ordered officials to properly perform their duties and to take effective measures to rescue the injured, repair quake-damaged infrastructure, allocate relief materials, and restore transportation.

Supervision departments at all levels are also ordered to intensify supervision over management and the use of disaster-relief funds and donations to ensure the money and materials are properly used to help victims.

Those found to be derelict in their duty or embezzling disaster-relief funds or donations will be severely punished according to the laws and regulations, the circular said.

The 7.1-magnitude earthquake, which hit Qinghai's Yushu county Wednesday morning, has left 791 people dead, 294 people missing and 1,176 injured. About 100,000 people had been left homeless.