In photos: 6.6-magnitude quake hits Yunnan

Rescue work continues?after SW China quake?

Firefighters, armed police arrive for quake rescue

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged full efforts to rescue people affected by Tuesday's earthquake in Yunnan through any possible means.

A 6.6-magnitude quake hit Jinggu County in southwest China's Yunnan Province at 9:49 p.m. Beijing Time on Tuesday, killing at least one person and leaving 324 injured, with 12 seriously injured.

In a written instruction issued on Wednesday, Xi urged local governments and the armed forces to join quake relief work as soon as possible, strengthen monitoring of aftershocks, take precautions against secondary disasters and keep damage at a minimum.

Some 124,600 people were affected, and some 59,000 people were evacuated. The quake also destroyed nearly 7,000 buildings.

It was the second strong quake to hit the province in just over two months. A 6.5-magnitude quake struck Ludian County on Aug. 3, killing at least 615 people.

Xi also called for coordinated reconstruction efforts in Ludian to ensure that local people survive the winter safely.

Meanwhile, Premier Li Keqiang urged related departments to move quickly to verify quake damage, rescue those affected, repair damaged infrastructure and transfer relief materials and funds.

In a written instruction, Li urged reducing casualties by all means, releasing damage information in a timely manner and ensuring order and calm in the quake zone.

The National Disaster Reduction Commission and the quake relief headquarters under the State Council have jointly sent a special team to the quake zone to guide the local relief campaign.