Day one of the quake

22:33

A total of 157 people had been killed and more than 5,700 injured in the 7.0-magnitude earthquake in southwest China's Sichuan Province as of 9:00 pm Saturday, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

A total of 33 counties in 12 cities of the province have been affected by the disaster, according to the ministry.

The quake also toppled nearly 900 houses in the nearby Yunan Province, and quake-triggered landslide killed one in the Liuba County of Shaanxi Province, the ministry revealed.

22:07

Firefighters have pulled out 93 people from collapsed structures, including 91 survivors, as of 7:40 pm Saturday, the Ministry of Public Security said. More than 2,600 people have been evacuated to safer places.

20:25

Up to 156 have been killed in the 7.0-magnitude quake in Sichuan, said a work conference held by the provincial government, CCTV reported.

20:08

As of 7:50pm Saturday, the 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Southwest China's Sichuan province has killed 132 people,and injured more than 5,500, according to the China Earthquake Administration.


20:05

Chinese Red Cross had sent emergency teams to quake-hit regions in response to a 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Sichuan province, said the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

The first Red Cross volunteer team from the provincial capital Chengdu has arrived with relief supplies of food, water, medicines and rescue equipment and several more are on their way. The Red Cross' specialized Blue Sky rescue team has also arrived in the area, according to the IFRC.

19:55

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has arrived at the epicenter of a 7.0-magnitude earthquake which jolted Sichuan province. Li took a helicopter to the epicenter of Lushan County in Ya'an City after he arrived in Sichuan. He called a meeting at around 6 pm at the front-line headquarters in Longmen Township of Lushan.

Li ordered the reopening of a blocked road to the neighboring Baoxing County and told rescuers to work speedily.

19:45

Many entertainment TV programs across China were canceled, in order to focus on the 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Southwest China's Sichuan province.

19:30

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered his condolences on Saturday over a devastating earthquake in Sichuan and proposed assistance. In a telegram sent to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, Putin said "Russia is ready to offer help, if needed, in liquidating the consequences of this devastating disaster."

18:50

The death toll from a strong quake that struck southwest China's Sichuan province on Saturday has risen to 124, injuring more than 3,000 according to the China Earthquake Administration.


18:40

A Chinese international medical relief team is heading to the 7.0-magnitude quake-hit areas in Southwest China's Sichuan province.

18:30

China has dispatched five drones to capture images of quake-hit areas, according to the National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation. The drone images will cover the hardest-hit Baoxing, Taiping and Longmen townships.

18:06

At least 113 people have been killed in the 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Southwest China's Sichuan province as of 4:40 pm on Saturday, according to the provincial seismological bureau.

17:55


Chinese Premier Li Keqiang took a helicopter to the epicenter of the 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Sichuan province, soon after his flight arrived in the southwestern province Saturday. During his flight from Beijing, Li convened emergency meetings to direct quake-relief work.

17:40

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday ordered rescuing troops in the quake-hit zone in Southwest China's Sichuan province to make "every possible effort".

17:25

Officials at the transport management bureau of the Ministry of Public Security said several roads around the quake-hit areas in Ya'an city of Southwest China’s Sichuan province have adopted traffic control measures, Xinhua News Agency reported. The bureau also asked the public not to drive their own cars to the quake zone, in case the roads are blocked by heavy traffic.

People’s Daily made similar appeals on its Sina Weibo. The newspaper, which has 5.66 million followers on the Twitter-like platform, recommends people use text messages or WeChat, a popular text and voice messaging service in China, to communicate with their friends or relatives in the quake zone and leave the phone channels open for people who most need it.

17:15

A rescue vehicle carrying about 17 soldiers fell down a cliff on its way to the quake relief area, killing one solider on the spot. An injured soldier was sent to Yingjing County Hospital but later died, CCTV news reports on Sina Weibo.

17:05

Firefighters have pulled out 51 people from collapsed structures, including 49 survivors, as of 3:50 pm Saturday, the Ministry of Public Security said.

16:58

102 people have been killed in the strong quake that hit Lushan county of Sichuan province on Saturday, CCTV reported.


16:50

Premier Li Keqiang required timely release of earthquake-related information, including casualties and rescue efforts.

16:45

At least 100 people were reported dead by 4:22pm and more than 383,000 affected due to the Sichuan earthquake on Saturday, figures from China Earthquake Administration show.

16:40

A transport plane from Chengdu Air Force took off at 2:05 pm to bring a rescue team to Ya'an city, carrying 71 professional rescue workers and 4 sniffer dogs, CCTV news reports on Sina Weibo.

16:37

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has arrived at the epicenter of a 7.0-magnitude earthquake which jolted southwest China's Sichuan Province and killed at least 124 Saturday

16: 36

Two of the largest air companies in China have set aside 15 passenger airlines, three cargo planes and three helicopters for rescue efforts taking place in Ya’an, Sichuan province.>>

16:30

Death toll has climbed to 82. More than 2,000 people had been injured and about 383,000 people been affected by 2:30pm,according to Sichuan civil affairs department.

16:22

Spokesman of the Ministry of Transport He Jianzhong said two sections of the Beijing-Kunming expressway, Chengdu-Ya'an, Ya'an-Xichang, are now the main roads for outside vehicles to enter into Lushan county, the epicenter of the 7-magnitude earthquake, as other roads leading to the county have been blocked. Both roads are now free for vehicles to pass,Xinhua News Agency reported.

Traffic police in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, said on its Sina Weibo, that any rescue vehicles who need escort could contact them through 020-86406906. "We would move our forces in our quickest possible way to offer help,"the police said.

16:12

About 120,000 residents in Lushan county of Ya’an are awaiting settlement due to the deadly earthquake, the county government said. Tents, drinking water, instant noodles are among the most needed resources.

16:09

Premier Li Keqiang has arrived in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province. He will take a helicopter to the epicenter, the CCTV reported.


16:00

Zhang Fulian, 64, weeps at the death of her 16-year-old grandson at Gucheng village, Longmen township, Lushan county of Ya’an city, Sichuan province. Her grandson died in the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that hit Lushan county. Zhang regrets not waking her grandson earlier, as he was preparing to take the high school entrance exam, the Beijing News reported Saturday.

15:57

People stand outside of their houses after a quake hit Ya'an, Sichuan on Saturday morning. [Photo/sina weibo]

15:55

About 80,000 prisoners have been evacuated from prisons in Sichuan after a powerful earthquake jolted the southwestern Chinese province on Saturday morning. Among them, more than 2,000 were evacuated from a prison in Ya’an county near the epicenter, Sichuan Daily reported. No deaths were reported among the prisoners, but one person was injured in the leg.

15:52

A woman gave birth to a baby at a makeshift tent built at the People's Hospital of Ya'an, Sichuan, Sichuan TV reported. Both the mother and the baby are in good health.

15:50

The power grid of Lushan county was damaged and water supply was cut off after the quake. Tents, water and food are badly needed, Xinhua News Agency reported.

15:46

No student deaths have been reported in the 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Southwest China's Sichuan province, according to the education authority.


15:40

Chinese authorities have deployed more than 6,000 military and armed police soldiers and several aircraft to the area hit by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake in southwest China's Sichuan province to help with rescue and relief efforts, People's Daily reports.

15: 30

Lushan Middle school was used as a temporary airport after the quake, and 6 planes from Chengdu military region took off for Longmen township of Ya'an, scol.com.cn reported.

15:27

Free porridge and noodles are provided outside the county gym at Lushan county of Ya'an city, Southwest China's Sichuan province, April 20, 2013.