AROUND 243,880 people were affected after a 6.0-magnitude earthquake that hit Southwest China’s Sichuan Province on Monday, local authorities said yesterday at a press conference.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, 13 people had died and 220 were injured. Among the injured, 153 people are receiving treatment in hospitals, according to Li Tinggen, secretary-general of the municipal government of Yibin.

The earthquake hit Changning County of Yibin at 10:55 p.m. Monday. The epicenter, with a depth of 16 km, was monitored at 28.34 degrees north latitude and 104.90 degrees east longitude, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.

More than 52,000 people were relocated in quake-hit areas. Over 20,000 houses collapsed or were severely damaged, the updated statistics showed.

Over 3,100 people joined in the search and rescue work.

Starting yesterday morning, after emergency repairs, rescue vehicles can access seven major rural roads leading to the epicenter of the earthquake.

The Sichuan Provincial Department of Transport has sent 24 rescue teams to check 1,300 km of expressways, 600 km of national and provincial roads, 187 bridges and 44 tunnels leading to the disaster-stricken areas, and carry out emergency repairs.

Currently, all coal mines in Yibin have been suspended and miners have been evacuated. Nineteen hazardous chemical companies are currently being checked.

Also, China has allocated an emergency funding of 50 million yuan (US$7.2 million) for earthquake relief, the country’s top economic planner announced Tuesday.

The funds, within the central budget plan, will be used for rebuilding infrastructure and public service facilities in the quake-affected areas, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). 

(Xinhua)