3000 rescuers arrive in Gansu after devastating earthquake

Rescuers look for survivors on Tuesday in the rubble of a building in Jishishan county in Linxia, Gansu province. A magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit the area just before midnight on Monday. [Photo by Tian Xi for China Daily]

More than 3,000 rescuers of various types have arrived at the quake-hit areas after a devastating earthquake hit Gansu and Qinghai provinces late on Monday, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management. 

It said 2,042 of the rescuers are from the National Comprehensive Fire and Rescue Team, who brought with them 381 vehicles and 37 rescue dogs. In total, they have saved 74 people trapped from the quake and evacuated almost 4,300 residents. 

The release said 294 members from 11 civilian rescue teams have also arrived, with another 500 of their colleagues well prepared to join them after receiving orders. 

The rescue forces were also reinforced by 736 people from 28 rescue teams dispatched by some centrally administered State-owned enterprises, it said. Another 2,800 rescuers with such SOEs have been ready to offer help.