Massive disaster relief efforts have been carried out in Southwest China's Sichuan Province immediately after the worst earthquake in the country in decades.

Our reporter TU Yun has more details.

China's Ministry of Civil Affairs has initiated first level emergency contingency plan. It allotted 200 million Yuan, or some nearly 7 million US dollars, of relief fund and 25,000 tents for the needs of the victims.

The sudden quake jolted Sichuan's Wenchuan County on Monday. All roads leading to the county, which has more than 100,000 residents, have been destroyed by landslides and telecommunication links have also been cut.

According to offcials, about one third of the buildings in the area have collapsed and the exact death toll is still unknown.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has ordered the removal of barriers and opening up of roads to Wenchuan within 24 hours. A large amount of relief materials have been prepared for the disaster areas.

Zhang Bo is the vice-president of Sichuan Red Cross. She says they've collected more than 400 thousand US dollars of relief funds and materials.

"Now we are ready to send our goods to Wenchuan. As far as we know, the roads to the region are broken. We will try our best to reach the place and send our goods to those victims."

Rescue works have also been carried out in many other quake-hit areas in Sichuan province.

In the City of Dujiangyan, about 100 km from the epicenter, many local hospitals have set up emergency centers to provide medical services for the victims.

"After the quake, I noticed this medical center in the tent, and I sent my mother here. The doctors and nurses are very warm. They treat us very well."

In Chendu, capital of Sichuan province, medical workers have been on their posts for the whole day. Four healthy babies were born after the quake hit the city's Huaxi hospital.

"When the quake took place, there was a patient lying on our operation table for a cesarean section. No one left the operation table. We finished the operation safely."

According to the hospital, rescue work is underway in an orderly fashion.

TU Yun, CRI news.