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China continues efforts to bring citizens home from Nepal

Xinhua, April 29, 2015 Adjust font size:

China is stepping up efforts to bring more citizens home from Nepal as rescue work enters its fourth day, authorities said on Wednesday.

A total of 2,526 Chinese citizens stranded in Nepal following Saturday's 8.1-magnitude earthquake had been brought home as of Tuesday night, according to the China National Tourism Administration. Most were in the country for tourism.

There are 14 flights planned between China and Nepal on Wednesday, flying to Kathmandu from Beijing, Chengdu, Kunming, Guangzhou and Lhasa. Two cargo aircraft will also fly to Nepal from Beijing for relief missions.

On Tuesday alone, four Chinese airlines returned 727 Chinese citizens via 12 flights from Nepal.

Following the earthquake, a 62-member Chinese search and rescue team and six search dogs were sent to Nepal's capital Kathmandu, according to the China Earthquake Administration. Their plane was loaded with 20.5 tonnes of relief materials.

China decided on Wednesday to provide a second round of humanitarian aid worth 40 million yuan (6.54 million U.S. dollars) to Nepal following the first round of 20 million yuan, the Ministry of Commerce said.

The aid, including water purification equipment, first aid kits, tents and blankets, will be delivered to Nepal as soon as possible, the ministry said in a statement.

A massive 8.1-magnitude quake shook Nepal on Saturday. The Chinese government announced its first round of aid on Sunday.

The death toll from Saturday's earthquake in Nepal has climbed to more than 5,000 people. More than 10,000 others were injured, according to reports.

As aid and support from China begins to reach Nepal after Saturday's earthquake, domestic relief and rescue efforts are also intensifying in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

The death toll in Tibet from the quake rose to 25, with 4 still missing and 383 injured, authorities said Tuesday. More than 47,500 have been displaced in the high-altitude region, and relief efforts are under way. Endi