Xi urges all-out search, rescue, relief efforts after 6.2-magnitude earthquake

The injured are sent to hospital in Jishishan county of Linxia Hui autonomous prefecture in Northwest China's Gansu province, Dec 19, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

President Xi Jinping has urged all-out search and rescue efforts and proper arrangements for affected people to ensure the safety of people's lives and property after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake jolted Jishishan county in Northwest China's Gansu province at midnight Monday.

So far, the earthquake has caused 100 deaths in Gansu province and 11 deaths in Qinghai province, and damaged some infrastructure such as water, electricity, transportation and communications.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, asked local authorities to rescue and treat the injured people in a timely manner to minimize casualties, and closely monitor the earthquake situation and weather changes to prevent secondary disasters.

He also urged allocation of relief supplies to the affected regions as soon as possible, repair of damaged infrastructure such as electricity, communications, transportation and heating, and proper accommodation of the affected people to ensure their basic living needs.

The State Council is requested to send a working group to the disaster-stricken areas to guide the earthquake relief work. The Chinese People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force should actively cooperate with local governments to carry out emergency rescue and disaster relief, and do their utmost to ensure the safety of people's lives and property.

Premier Li Qiang also made instructions, urging all-out efforts to rescue the trapped and treat the injured in order to minimize casualties.

The State Council has sent a working group to the stricken regions to help guide relief work. Gansu and Qinghai provinces have organized relief support with immediate allocation of relief supplies such as camps and folding beds to the affected areas.

Earthquake relief work is undergoing in an orderly manner.