Medical staff and rescue cargo nationwide were on the way to the quake-hit southwest China region on Tuesday.

The fire-fighting bureau under the Ministry of Public Security has mobilized 1,120 officers and soldiers and 30 sniffer dogs from 12 provinces and municipalities, according to Yan Hongbing, a fire-fighting squad official in Sichuan.

The Chongqing team set off on early Tuesday and would arrive at Dujiangyan City to start rescue operation, Yan said.

A 53-member rescue team from southern Hainan Province flew directly to Chengdu at midday on Tuesday. Other teams also headed for the affected areas on Tuesday.

Mou Guangxun, head of the Hainan seismological bureau, said their main task was to reach the designated areas as quickly as possible, search trapped people and do their best to rescue survivors.

A 7.8-magnitude quake rocked Wenchuan County, 159 km northwest of Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, at 2:28 PM Monday. At least 11,921 people have been confirmed dead in the affected areas across the country, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

(Xinhua News Agency May 13, 2008)