Briefly

SICHUAN

4 dead, 14 injured after earthquakes

At least four people were killed and 14 others injured after an earthquake jolted the city of Ya'an in Sichuan province on Wednesday afternoon, according to the city's earthquake relief headquarters. A 6.1-magnitude earthquake rattled Lushan county of Ya'an in Sichuan, at 5:00 pm, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center. The earthquake was followed by another 4.5-magnitude jolt at 5:03 pm in Baoxing county, also under the city of Ya'an. As of 6:30 pm Wednesday, all the casualties were reported as being in Baoxing county, the city's earthquake relief headquarters said. More than 800 personnel from emergency rescue, the armed police, the fire department, the medical sector and the public security bureau were immediately dispatched to the earthquake-hit areas to search for and rescue the injured, repair roads and relocate affected residents.

YUNNAN

Rare fish fry released into Lancang River

A total of 103,000 fry of rare fish were released into the Lancang River, a vital waterway for cross-border shipping, in Southwest China's Yunnan province on Wednesday. The release was jointly organized by Huaneng Lancang River Hydropower Inc, Yunnan provincial fishery research institute, and other institutions at a power station terminal in the middle reaches of the Lancang River, also known as the Mekong River after it flows out of China. A total of 103,000 fry of rare fish, including about 82,000 fry of Schizothorax lissolabiatus, a type of ray-finned fish endemic to the area, were released into the river. The comparatively mild water flow at the release site could aid the fry in adapting to their new water environment and ensure their survival rate.

BEIJING

China gets prepared for flood season

China's Ministry of Water Resources has urged local agencies across the country to elevate preparedness as this year's main flood season begins. Local water resource departments were asked to closely monitor the precipitation, water and flood situations, eliminate risks and hidden dangers, and strengthen early warning and forecasts to prevent potential floods. China entered the main flood season on Wednesday, the ministry said, warning of possible river flooding. "Major floods are expected in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, as well as in the Haihe, Huaihe, Liaohe and Hanjiang rivers," said Hu Jianwei, chief hydrology forecaster of the ministry.

HUNAN

Probes launched after restaurant blast

One person had been killed and 13 others injured as of 10:30 am after a blast rocked a rice noodle restaurant in Changsha county, central China's Hunan province, at about 6:30 am on Wednesday, according to the local publicity department. All the injured have been rushed to hospital for treatment. The local fire, public security and emergency response departments have joined the rescue operation. An investigation into the accident is underway.

Xinhua