The China Earthquake Administration has initiated an emergency-response plan against an earthquake which has left scores of people dead in northwest China's Gansu Province Monday.

A 6.6-magnitude quake jolted the junction of Minxian County and Zhangxian County at 7:45 a.m. Beijing Time. The epicenter, with a depth of 20 km, was 170 km away from the provincial capital of Lanzhou, according to the administration.

The emergency plan includes close monitoring of the quake and sending disaster-relief teams to affected areas, it said.

The National Committee for Disaster Reduction and the Ministry of Civil Affairs also launched a level-four emergency response and sent work teams to the quake zone.

The Gansu Provincial Department of Civil Affairs has allocated 500 tents and 2,000 cotton sheets to the quake zone. The work team is trying to relocate residents from dangerous areas to safety.

A later 5.6-magnitude quake jolted the same area at 9:12 a.m..

Soldiers, police and more than 300 local militiamen have been dispatched to the quake-hit region to help with rescue efforts.

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