China Qinghai quake death toll rises to nearly 600

The death toll from the earthquake that struck northwest China's Qinghai Province early on Wednesday has risen to nearly 600, with 10,000 injured.

Rescuers work on the debris of a local vocational school after a quake in Yushu County, northwest China's Qinghai Province, April 14, 2010. About 589 people have died after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit Yushu early on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao have urged all-out efforts to save lives and provide assistance to people affected by the tremor.

Hours after the quake struck, Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu arrived at the quake zone to direct relief efforts.

Many people are still buried under the debris of collapsed houses in the town of Gyegu, located near the epicenter in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu.

The strong quake and a string of aftershocks, with the biggest measuring 6.3 on the Richter Scale, have toppled houses, triggered landslides, damaged roads, cut power supplies, and disrupted telecommunications.

The Chinese government has allocated 200 million yuan, or about 30 million US dollars, from the Central Fund for Disaster Relief.

The money was set aside to support relief efforts including evacuations, resettlements, medical treatments, and epidemic prevention.

The disaster relief department has initiated a first class emergency response for disaster relief work.

It means funds allocated by the country's financial departments should be delivered to quake-stricken regions no later than 24 hours after the quake.

Relief materials should be sent to the affected areas by train or plane as quickly as possible.