国内英语新闻:China working to prevent secondary disasters in quake-hit region

YUSHU, Qinghai, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese authorities are working to protect the quake survivors in the northwestern province of Qinghai from potential secondary disasters.

The government has provided sufficient food, drinking water and tents for more than 200,000 quake survivors, but landslides, floods and disease outbreaks may still threaten their lives.

The magnitude 7.1 quake has killed at least 2,220 people, with 70 still missing and more than 12,000 injured.

Recent rain has raised the risk of landslides as the devastating quake and aftershocks has destabilized mountain slopes. The rainy season starting in late May or early June will make the situation worse.

A total of 139 survivors were evacuated to safety 7 km away from their make-shift homes in Changu Village of the quake-hit Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Region early Tuesday morning as rain-triggered landslides threatening their safety.

"It's still an arduous task to prevent and guard against secondary disasters," said Wang Jianbin, deputy director of the Qinghai provincial land and resources bureau.