China begins air drop of food supplies in quake hit areas

BEIJING: China today started air drop of water and essential supplies to several remote areas, two days after the deadly quake shook the remote areas of Sichuan province, as the death toll climbed to 188 with 25 people listed missing.

About 12,000 were injured including over a thousand whose condition was stated to be critical.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force today carried out its first airdrop operations in quake-hit southwest China to deliver food and water for thousands of homeless survivors.

Loaded with bottled water, instant noodles and other food, an Air Force helicopter took off from Qionglai Airport to Baosheng township, where the rescue teams are struggling to reach after landslides blocked the approach roads, a report by state-run Xinhua news agency said.

So far 2.6 tonnes of supplied were airdropped, state media reported.

The quake hit mountainous Lushan County of southwest China's Sichuan Province on Saturday. Roads to many remote towns were blocked by sliding rocks, leaving survivors facing food shortages.

Also, after shocks continue to hamper operations as area recorded 2,360 tremors after the seven magnitude quake on Saturday.

Four of the aftershocks were measured above 5.0 magnitude, the China Earthquake Administration (CEA) said.

Lushan is about 200 km from the epicenter of the massive Wenchuan earthquake that left 90,000 dead or missing five years ago.

Chinese Foreign Ministry once again politely rejected the aid and help from other countries for the quake hit areas saying that the government and the army have been carrying out relief operations on a massive scale and any major movement of vehicles and people on the already crowded roads would hamper operations.

President Xi Jinping said work in quake-hit southwest China is being carried out efficiently and Chinese people can overcome difficulties caused by the disaster.

Under the leadership of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) and the government, and with the support from the international community, Chinese people are able to rebuild their homes, Xi said.

The earthquake, which caused serious casualties and property losses, has concerned every Chinese person, Xi said.

The CPC, the government and the army mobilised the military and civilian forces to engage in rescue and relief work shortly after the quake, he said.

"The relief work is happening efficiently and orderly," he said.

He expressed gratitude towards the international community for their concern and support.

The international community has expressed sympathy and support for the Chinese government and people, which displayed goodwill and raised the morale of Chinese citizens, he said.

Xi made the statement when receiving credentials presented by new ambassadors from nine foreign countries.