国内英语新闻:People united in Yushu quake rescue and relief effort

Aftershocks, high altitudes with thin air, freezing temperatures, and rugged terrain have complicated rescue and relief operations.

"Although Wednesday's earthquake affected fewer people and caused less damage compared with the 8.0-magnitude earthquake in Sichuan in 2008, the rescue mission is no less challenging," said Miao Chonggang, deputy head of the China Earthquake Administration's quake relief and emergency response department.

"The high altitude is a key problem here," Miao said.

Yushu sits at about 4,000 meters above sea level. Rescuers and sniffer dogs had to fight altitude sickness.

In addition, disrupted telecommunication and transport access have also added to the complexity of rescue and relief operations.

Road access to Yushu, about 800 kilometres from Qinghai's provincial capital, Xining, is difficult, Vice Transport Minister Gao Hongfeng told a press conference Saturday. Few planes can land at Yushu's small airport at an altitude of 4,000 meters.

But Gao insisted transport authorities are experienced and capable of conducting the operations even under such harsh circumstances, adding that relief materials are being transported to the quake zones "nonstop."