Magnitude 6 earthquake strikes Sichuan, kills 13
As of 11 am Tuesday, the quake toppled down 73 houses and severely damaged 19 others. Nearly 4,500 people were evacuated in quake-hit areas. Direct economic loss totaled 10.82 million yuan (about $1.59 million).
On Tuesday morning, 53 people were still receiving treatment in two hospitals in Changning. Among them, two are in critical conditions and six others are severely injured.
The Ministry of Emergency Management has activated an emergency response and sent a work team to the stricken areas to provide guidance in rescue and disaster relief.
The ministry and the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration have dispatched 5,000 tents, 10,000 folding beds and 20,000 quilts to the quake-hit areas.
The first team of nine medical experts has set off for the quake-hit region while the second team stands by, according to the National Health Commission (NHC).
Team members are experts in critical care, orthopedics, psychology, epidemic control and sanitation from leading hospitals in Beijing and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Three national medical emergency teams have been on call while three local medical teams of about 50 members have reached the quake-hit region.
Relief materials from the Red Cross Society of China are on the way, including tents, quilts and coats, as well as several search and rescue teams.
China's armed police forces were also dispatched for rescue soon after the earthquake.
Nearly 800 armed police forces from Sichuan set off for the epicenter for rescue efforts with professional equipment including life detectors and forcible entry tools. More than 1,000 armed police forces from Sichuan Province were assigned as mobile forces for reinforcement.
