A magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurred at 9:50 a.m. on Tuesday, January 7, in Riting district of Shigats town in Sichang. It caused heavy casualties and many houses collapsed.
After the earthquake, Chinese President Xi Jinping issued instructions to carry out all-out relief and rescue operations.
He said better work should be done to prevent secondary disasters, properly rehabilitate the affected people and deal with the aftermath. We need to strengthen earthquake monitoring and early warning, quickly allocate emergency rescue supplies, repair damaged infrastructure as soon as possible, meet people’s basic needs and ensure safe and warm winters.
On the same day, Prime Minister Li Qiang also gave important instructions. He said that the disaster situation and the number of casualties should be determined immediately. Comprehensive relief and rescue work should be carried out.
On this day, Deputy Prime Minister Chang Kuo Ching went to the earthquake affected area on time. The Office of the National Assembly Earthquake Relief Headquarters and the Department of Emergency Management have launched a national earthquake level three emergency response. Sichang Autonomous Region is intensively and systematically conducting relief and rescue operations.
Source: Chai-Hashim-Wang Haiman, China Media Group.