Rescuers carry a child to an ambulance on Tuesday in Changning, Yibin, Sichuan province. A 6.0 magnitude quake struck Changning at 10:55 pm on Monday. (LIU ZHONGJUN / CHINA NEWS SERVICE)
President Xi Jinping ordered all-out efforts to organize relief work and rescue operations for the injured on Tuesday after a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Sichuan Province on Monday night.
The quake struck Yibin's Changning county at 10:55 pm, killing 13 and injuring 199, including six who were still in critical condition as of 4 pm on Tuesday, the provincial Bureau of Emergency Management said.
Most of the deaths were the result of collapsing homes, rescuers said. So far, 14 people have been rescued from the debris. More than 140,000 people have been affected by the quake. The temblor damaged homes and roadways, and interrupted power and communication services.
Heavy rains may take place over the next several days in the earthquake zone, which may affect emergency rescue efforts, the China Meteorological Administration said on Tuesday.
The disaster has drawn national attention, with Xi focusing on rescue work and providing instructions. He said relief and rescue efforts were the highest priorities, along with preventing further deaths or injuries.
He said the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force should support and assist the efforts of local governments. Related departments should work scientifically, strengthen earthquake monitoring to prevent secondary disasters, restore water and power supplies and get transportation and telecommunication up and running as soon as possible.
He also said it was important to resettle people affected by the quake in safe areas. China has entered its rainy season, a time when downpours frequently occur in parts of the country, causing floods and landslides and as well as casualties and property damage.
