As many as 240 residents of Qongkurqak, the worst-hit area in Xinjiang, died in the quake. Almost all the homes have been reduced to debris.

The earthquake, measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale, jolted Jiashi and Bachu counties at 10:03 am, leaving more than 2,000 injured.

No foreigners or people from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan or overseas Chinese have been reported dead.

The two areas were ancient towns along the Silk Road in the eastern foothills of the soaring Pamirs.

So far, more than 600 seriously injured people have been sent to five local hospitals.

"Our hospital is overwhelmed with the injured from teenagers to people in their 70s," said a doctor in the People's Hospital of Bachu County.

Rescue workers are still searching through the rubble in hope of finding more survivors. "Many rescuers haven't had any sleep," said Xu Chuanhai, head of the disaster relief panel of Bachu County.

"Soldiers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army dug survivors out of the debris with their bare hands which were bleeding," recalled Tohuti, vice chairman of the Political Consultative Conference of Qongkurqak Township.

Almost all locals are now sleeping in the 9,000 quilted tents which the central and local civil affairs departments shipped to Bachu and Jiashi counties. Many residents in the quake-hit areas are still fearful of more tremors.

Their plight has moved people across China. Vice Premier Wen Jiabao issued an order requiring relief goods to reach victims within 24 hours.

"We must ensure victims do not suffer from hunger and cold and we must prevent the spread of disease," said Wen.

CPC regional chief Wang Lequan and regional government chairman Ismail Tiliwaldi broke off visits to Beijing and arrived in the affected areas at the small hours of Tuesday morning.

More than 2,000 soldiers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army are helping local residents to dig out the victims and their properties and rebuild their houses.

The first shipments of relief goods -- 1,200 tents and 1,000 cotton quilts -- have reached Jiashi and Bachu counties and have been distributed to residents. More relief materials from the rest of China and overseas are en route to victims.

The quake-stricken areas have received 400,000 yuan (US$48,100) worth of medical instruments donated by hospitals across the country. A 300-member medical team is working day and night to save the lives of injured.

The China Red Cross Society and Xinjiang regional government have set up special bank accounts to accept donations and opened 24-hour hot lines.

Relief materials arrived in the area and were delivered to residents before dawn on Tuesday. The temperature dropped to below freezing in the area on Tuesday night, but residents were all provided with tents and quilts.

Over the past two days, tractors carrying bodies could be seen in many parts of the two counties. Survivors buried their loved ones according to local Muslim customs.

The earthquake destroyed more than 900 classrooms at 30 schools in the Qongkurqak village and school has been suspended in the area.

(Xinhua News Agency February 26, 2003)