The Public Security Ministry has also initiated emergency response procedures.

It has set up its disaster relief headquarters to co-ordinate search and rescue efforts. The Ministry dispatched 12,000 firemen and police officers, along with 64 fire-trucks, from neighboring provinces of Gansu, Sichuan,and Guangdong as well as Tibet Autonomous region.

Rescuers are arriving at the quake-hit zone by air and land routes. They are bringing with them life-detection equipment, satellite phones and rescue dogs.

(CCTV April 15, 2010)