China goes all out to rescue after passenger plane crashes in Guangxi

(ECNS) -- China is carrying out rescue operations after a China Eastern Airlines passenger plane with 132 people aboard crashed in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Monday afternoon.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has initiated an emergency response mechanism. A working group dispatched by the CAAC arrived at the accident scene on Monday evening to guide and facilitate the rescue work.

The Wuzhou fire brigade has sent 117 firefighters with 23 fire trucks to the site. Another 538 firefighters from other parts of Guangxi have also been dispatched to join the rescue efforts.

More than 30 officers and soldiers sent by the Wuzhou Armed Police Detachment have arrived at the site with rescue tools. An armed police support team is also on standby.

Twelve medical experts dispatched by the health commission of Guangxi and a medical team of over 80 medical workers with 36 ambulances sent by the health commission of Wuzhou have arrived at the scene.

The first batch of more than 50 psychologists from all parts of Guangxi will also join the rescue work.

29 buses and 50 taxis dispatched by the transportation department of Wuzhou have arrived at the Wuzhou Xijiang Airport to serve passengers' families and experts.

China Eastern Airlines has initiated an emergency response mechanism and set up nine special working groups for aircraft disposal, accident investigation, family assistance, logistics support, legal support, public relations, security, financial insurance, and cargo disposal.

The airline company has also opened an emergency assistance line, 4008495530, for passengers' families.

Local meteorological authorities warned that there would be heavy rain in Tengxian County during the day today and there may be heavy rain in some areas of the county, which may affect the rescue work.

The China Eastern Airlines Boeing 737 aircraft, which departed from Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, and was bound for Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, crashed into a mountainous area near Molang Village in Tengxian County in the city of Wuzhou at 2:38 in the afternoon.