Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense

The military at all levels firmly followed the orders and directives of President Xi Jinping and the Central Military Commission (CMC), and fully supported local disaster relief efforts to ensure the safety of people's lives, property, and social stability, Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense said on Friday when asked to further introduce the rescue efforts being actively carried out by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and Armed Police Forces in the earthquake relief operations in Xigaze of Xizang.

Wu said that a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Dingri in Xigaze, Xizang on January 7, causing significant casualties. President Xi Jinping paid close attention to the situation and issued key directives, stressing the importance of conducting comprehensive search and rescue operations, providing full medical treatment to the injured, and minimizing casualties to the greatest extent.

The joint operations command center of the CMC immediately activated the emergency command mechanism and directed the Western Theater Command and armed police forces in coordinating effective ground and aerial rescue efforts, Wu said.

By Wednesday, 2,055 officers and soldiers from the PLA and armed police, 869 militia members, 20 aircraft, and 297 vehicles and engineering machinery were deployed. The efforts resulted in the rescue of 27 people, the relocation of 2,756 disaster-stricken residents, the establishment of 21 field medical support points, the treatment and medical consultation of 22,359 injured people, the erection of 2,812 tents and prefabricated houses, providing more than 95,000 hot meals, transporting over 4,300 tons of disaster relief materials, and the clearing over 4,700 cubic meters of debris.