More than 6,000 People's Liberation Army soldiers, militias and police joined round-the-clock rescue efforts, while another 200-plus health care workers busily treated the injured, forgoing sleep.

Almost the entire local population is now sleeping in the 9,000 quilted tents which were shipped to the afflicted area by central and local civil affairs departments.

Wang Lequan, party secretary of Xinjiang, said the restoration of water and electricity to the area was the top priority for relief workers, while food, medicine, tents, quilts and clothes were still in great need.

Monday's earthquake, measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale, jolted Jiashi and Bachu counties at 10:03 am, leaving 266 people confirmed dead and more than 2,000 seriously injured.

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

Experts have begun to analyze why the casualty figures were much higher in Bachu County than in Jiashi.

They are also trying to discern why Jiashi County, which is nearer the epicentre of the quake, suffered only slight damage, while Qongkurqak Township in Bachu County alone had some 240 people confirmed dead.

Xu Deshi, an expert with the China Seismological Bureau, said the unreliable mud brick housing structures were a significant factor.

Moreover, the loose soil of the Taklimakan Desert where Bachu is located as well as other geological factors contributed to the huge damage, he added.

The China Red Cross Society has so far collected about 2.4 million yuan (US$290,000) worth of donations from Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taiwan and other provinces.

The China Women Development Foundation has also sent 370,000 yuan (US$44,700) worth of donations.

The regional government has made an urgent call for financial aid and relief supplies to rebuild and help victims. Telephone numbers have been issued to accept both domestic and overseas donations as follows: 86-0991-2886942, 86-0991-2862167, and 86-0991-2567191.

(China Daily February 27, 2003)