Death toll up to 13 in SW China earthquake

A soldier binds up a student's ankle at a middle school in Gongxian County of Yibin City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 18, 2019. Thirteen people died and 199 were injured after a 6.0-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China's Sichuan Province at 10:55 p.m. Monday, the Ministry of Emergency Management said Tuesday. (Xinhua/He Junwei)

Thirteen people died and 199 were injured after a 6.0-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China's Sichuan Province at 10:55 p.m. Monday, the Ministry of Emergency Management said Tuesday.

As of 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, 20 people trapped by debris had been rescued while 731 had been evacuated, according to the ministry.

Safety inspection and rescue efforts are underway, with firefighters rushing to the quake-hit regions to conduct rescue and search operations.

The China Earthquake Administration deployed 80 people in the quake-hit regions for real-time monitoring and damage assessment.

Meanwhile, the ministry and the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration have dispatched 5,000 tents, 10,000 folding beds and 20,000 quilts to the areas.

The 6.0-magnitude quake had affected a total of 142,832 people and demolished 73 houses as of 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, the ministry said.