China upgrades emergency response to Level III after Xizang quake

BEIJING, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- The State Council earthquake relief headquarters and the Ministry of Emergency Management upgraded the national earthquake emergency response from Level IV to Level III after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, the ministry said Friday.

A work team has also been dispatched to the quake-hit area to guide and assist rescue and relief efforts.

The earthquake struck Baqen County of Nagqu City at 10:33 p.m. Thursday, leaving 16 people dead and 54 injured.

After the quake, a deputy commander of the State Council earthquake relief headquarters and relevant ministry officials have continued to coordinate and guide emergency response efforts.

The ministry has also guided Xizang's emergency management department in arranging for Wing Loong drone deployment to the quake-hit area for disaster reconnaissance.

China's national comprehensive fire and rescue force has dispatched a total of 350 rescuers and 83 vehicles for rescue operations.

As of 6:30 a.m. Friday, 120 rescuers and 27 vehicles had arrived in the quake-hit area, while the remaining 230 rescuers and 56 vehicles from the Xizang fire and rescue corps were en route as reinforcements, having all entered Nagqu's administrative area.

As of 4:30 a.m. Friday, authorities mobilized relief supplies at the central, regional, municipal and county levels and delivered them in batches to the quake-hit area.

The supplies included 1,000 prefabricated housing units, 3,239 tents, 2,821 folding beds and 4,280 quilts, among other essentials.