Over 50,000 relocated as China earthquake death toll climbs to 65

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Thousands of people have been relocated to safer places after a powerful earthquake hit southwestern China on Monday afternoon, leaving 62 people dead.

Over 12 people are still missing, while 248 others were injured as People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers are carrying out rescue and relief operations, Chinese state media reported on Tuesday.

More than 50,000 people were relocated, according to reports.

According to the China Earthquake Networks Center, the quake hit the Luding county in the Garze Tibetan Autonomous region at a depth of 16 kilometers (9 miles) at 12.52 p.m. local time (0452GMT) on Monday.

Relief to the epicenter reached around midnight Monday, while 1,900 officers, soldiers, and armed police from the PLA were deployed to join the rescue operations, the Chinese daily Global Times reported.

Around 10 aftershocks were felt in the surrounding areas.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “all-out rescue efforts to minimize casualties” following the quake, according to local media.

He stressed strengthening quake monitoring, guarding against secondary disasters, and properly accommodating those affected.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen expressed sympathy to the victims of the earthquake, her spokesperson Xavier Chang said on Tuesday.

The self-ruled island nation's National Fire Agency said a fully equipped 40-member team "is ready to help with search and rescue efforts in Sichuan upon instruction" from the Foreign Ministry and the Mainland Affairs Council.