China's civil aviation authority has been coordinating efforts to ensure the smooth air transportation of disaster-relief workers and essential materials to the areas affected by Tuesday's deadly earthquake in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.
The 6.8-magnitude quake hit at 09:05 on Tuesday morning with the epicenter located in Tsogo Township of Dingri County, which is administered by the city of Xigaze. A total of 126 people have been confirmed dead and 188 others injured, as rescuers race to find any possible survivors buried beneath the rubble.
Following the quake, the Xigaze Dingri Airport has now fully restored its logistics capacity, after damage investigation work was carried out to ensure safe and stable operations at the airfield following Tuesday's main quake and the ensuing aftershocks.
In order to facilitate the all-important relief work, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has coordinated three passenger planes and four crews from the country's flagship carrier Air China and Sichuan Airlines to back up the essential disaster-relief transportation.
In addition, two Mi-171 helicopters belonging to the China General Aviation Corporation and the Qingdao Helicopter Aviation Company have also been put on stand-by in Xizang's southeastern city of Nyingchi, while two other helicopters operated by the Lhasa Snow Eagle General Aviation Company have also been advised to be ready to carry out relief missions if required.
Meanwhile, the administration has also dispatched air traffic control and meteorological personnel from its Southwest Air Traffic Management Bureau to support operations at the Dingri Airport during this critical emergency response period.
On Tuesday, the civil aviation sector handled four flights to aid the immediate post-quake response in Xizang, transporting 86 rescuers to the affected areas.
An Air China charter flight landed at the Dingri Airport shortly after 09:00 local time on Wednesday, carrying 42 workers from the regional capital Lhasa to support the follow-up disaster relief flights.
A total of seven flights were expected to transport some 170 personnel and over 25 tons of materials to the airport later on Wednesday.
Relevant Chinese departments have promptly carried out various key tasks, from allocating relief materials, supporting emergency rescue efforts, and providing safety assessments in the quake-hit zones.
The China Earthquake Administration has also sent personnel from several surrounding provincial-level regions including Yunnan, Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai and Xinjiang to help with the ongoing disaster-relief efforts in Xizang.
Local firefighting, traffic, rail and power authorities have also dispatched personnel and heavy machinery to the quake-affected areas to carry out the necessary rescue and repair operations.
A total of more than 14,000 people including armed police, public security officials, firefighters, medics, soldiers, and teams of community workers and volunteers have all joined the urgent rescue efforts as of 11:00 Wednesday.
Meanwhile, more than 428,000 daily necessities and relief supply items have been transferred to the disaster zones. The first batch of materials sent out by the local women's federation which includes donations of sweaters, blankets and relief packages, have all been transported to Dingri County.
China's aviation authority coordinates air transportation of relief workers, materials to quake-hit Xizang
