President Hu arrives in quake-hit Yushu to direct relief work

YUSHU, Qinghai, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in quake-hit Yushu in northwest China's Qinghai Province Sunday morning to direct relief work.

Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived at the quake-hit Yushu prefecture in northwestern China's Qinghai Province Sunday morning to direct relief work and visit victims.

Hu's plane landed at Batang Yushu Airport after a more than three hour flight from Beijing.

The president, who returned to Beijing on Saturday from a shortened visit to Latin America, headed for worst-hit Gyegu Town in Yushu immediately after landing.

He first visited the village of Zhaxi Datong to inspect the situation and to console the quake's victims.

Hu then paid a visit to those injured in the quake receiving treatment at the stadium in Yushu to check there were enough medical supplies and that epidemic prevention and control work was proceeding smoothly.

The 7.1-magnitude quake which struck the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu Wednesday morning has left at least 1,484 dead, 312 missing and 12,088 injured, as of 5 p.m. Saturday.