Rescue Work Continues in Quake-hit SichuanMore foodstuffs and other needed materials have been sent to the Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Sichuan Province, which was hit by a strong earthquake last Friday.Three batches of emergency materials have arrived in the quake- hit areas, and 5,000 tons of foodstuffs are on the way. Meanwhile, about 1,500 tons of salt and 1,250 tons of tea will be sent Tuesday, the local source said. The weather has been worsening and the temperature dropping since last Sunday. Snow has fallen in some counties in the quake- hit areas, which is expected to hamper the rescue work. The disaster was quite unexpected, as earthquakes are rare in the Ganzi region, and the possibility of aftershocks can not be ruled out, said Han Weibin, a local seismologist. Related experts here and in Beijing are closely monitoring the situation, said the local source. Sichuan Governor Zhang Zhongwei said that the top priority is to distribute the rescue materials to the victims as soon as possible. Local armed police and soldiers have been sent to the two hardest-hit counties, the local government said. |
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