More than 200 immigration police officers deployed by the entry-exit border inspection authorities in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region have joined rescue operations following a deadly 6.8-magnitude earthquake that hit the region on Tuesday morning.
The powerful quake, with its epicenter in Tsogo Township, jolted Dingri County in Xigaze City at 09:05 on Tuesday, claiming at least 126 lives and leaving 188 others injured as of 19:00, according to the authorities.
The immigration authorities activated their emergency contingency plan in the shortest possible time, deploying personnel from over 20 primary-level units with more than 300 rescue tools, including stretchers and medical supplies.
Within 10 minutes of the tremor, the Xigaze immigration detachment dispatched a 15-member emergency rescue team to the disaster zone.
After nearly seven hours of relentless efforts, the team had pulled 21 survivors from the rubble, relocated more than 600 affected residents, addressed 116 safety hazards, and distributed emergency relief supplies, including two tonnes of food and 100 tents.
Dingri County lies on the northern slope of the Himalayas, bordering Nepal to the south. With a population of over 60,000, the county is one of the most populous border counties in Xizang.
Immigration police join rescue efforts after deadly Xizang earthquake
As the 2025 Spring Festival approaches, food markets in several cities across the country are experiencing a shopping spree, with consumers flocking to snap up festive goods.
The Red Star agricultural products wholesale market in Changsha City of central China's Hunan Province offers fruits, fresh produce and other agricultural and sideline products from 28 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities as well as 21 countries and regions around the world. The market has recently seen a surge in sales volume.
"Since the New Year's Day, our sales volume has surged. For instance, yesterday we got eight trucks, and the volume will continue to grow," said Zhang Zhibin, a vendor at the market.
Statistics showed that, since the beginning of 2025, the Red Star market has seen a daily fruit trading volume of 12,000 tons, peaking at 20,000 tons. Vegetable trading averaged 5,000 tons per day, with peaks reaching 8,000 tons.
Zhoushan International Aquatic City, a major shopping center for aquatic products in Zhoushan City of east China's Zhejiang province, is also seeing a sales boom, with seafood orders increasing both online and offline.
Despite rising trade prices for some products, market demand remains strong.
"Currently, we purchase over 5,000 kilograms of goods daily, and then sell them to Wenzhou, Fujian, and Ningbo. The market [prices] are roughly in line with previous years, and the demand is high. Sometimes I got more than 100 orders a day," said Yang Yihua, a vendor at the aquatic city.
China's Spring Festival market buzzes as holiday approaches
