Emergency response activated after Sichuan quake

Mainland officials on Monday said 13 people sustained minor injuries after a 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck Gaoxian County, Yibin City, in Sichuan Province. The injured were sent to hospitals for treatment while 196 others have been relocated. Residents in Gaoxian County and neighbouring Gongxian County reported strong tremors, with furniture visibly displaced indoors. Tremors were also felt in Yibin, and Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan. Relief efforts were underway in an orderly manner, according to Yibin earthquake relief command headquarters. The earthquake occurred at 0.12am on Monday. The epicentre was monitored at 28.50 degrees north latitude and 104.69 degrees east longitude, with a depth of six kilometres, according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre. The China Earthquake Administration initiated a Level-III emergency response following the quake. China has a four-tier emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe response. (Xinhua) Edited by Tony Sabine