Main roads and streets near and in the quake-hit township of Jiegu in northwest China's Qinghai Province have been under traffic control to make way for relief operations.

A joint notice issued by the Ministry of Public Security and local traffic authorities stated that starting Saturday, only vehicles carrying the injured, rescuers, relief supplies and bodies of the dead as well as taxis are allowed on the roads and streets under the traffic control.

These roads and streets include the streets of Minzhu, Shengli, Hongwei, Xinjian, Jiequnanlu as well as part of the No. 214 National Highway.

The highway is a lifeline for quake survivors, as most relief supplies and personnel are transported to the quake-hit area on it, said Wang Jinbiao, a local public security official.

The traffic control was imposed as increasing vehicles caused traffic congestions in the quake-hit area in the Yushu prefecture, which was rocked by a 7.1-magnitude earthquake Wednesday morning.

(Xinhua News Agency April 17, 2010)