China in full rescue efforts in quake zone(3)

PREMIER'S SWIFT VISIT

During the Premier's time-scheduled stay in the quake-hit Sichuan Province, he slept in a makeshift tent, presided over meetings on board the plane and at the epicenter, visited quake relief personnel and survivors.

Before returning to Beijing, Premier Li Keqiang Sunday morning visited injured quake survivors in the West China Hospital in Chengdu.

"Be relaxed and relieved. Doctors here will make their utmost efforts to help you recover as soon as possible," Li told Yue Anhong, a local resident who was buried under rubble and seriously injured, at her sickbed.

Li asked medical staff to treat rescued people in a timely manner so as to reduce deaths and injuries to the minimum. He also ordered the guarantee of accommodation, food and safe water for residents in the quake zone as well as measures against any epidemic situation.

Li called for efforts to prevent further tragedies caused by aftershocks and geological disasters such as landslides. Public awareness of self-protection should also be promoted by government departments.

The Premier asked the central government's agencies to support and assist Sichuan provincial government which will be in charge of the comprehensive management for quake relief work from now on.

Currently, Vice Premier Wang Yang is heading to transport-isolated Baoxing County where information about the quake's aftermath is still not completely available.

The 7.0-magnitude quake occurred at 8:02 Beijing Time on Saturday morning and its epicenter, with a depth of 13 km, was monitored at 30.3 degrees north latitude and 103.0 degrees east longitude.

Ya'an has a population of 1.53 million and is known as the hometown of the giant panda. It is about 140 kilometers away from the provincial capital Chengdu City.

Special report: M-7.0 quake jolts Ya'an