A total of 50,000 quilts and 37,700 tents allocated by the Ministry of Civil Affairs have arrived at the southwest China quake zone as of 3 PM Thursday, with 32,200 tents going to Chengdu, in Sichuan Province.

The ministry said it had allocated 127,580 tents, 220,000 quilts and 170,000 sets of quilted clothes, and the remainder is set to arrive by the end of Friday.

More firemen would be sent to reinforce rescue teams in remote townships, the Ministry of Public Security said Thursday.

More than 7,000 firemen, special policemen and medics would be deployed to Pingwu and Beichuan counties, Xuankou, Shuimo, Sanjiang Townships of Wenchuan County, and other townships in Mianyang and Mianzhu to clear "blind spots" in rescue work.

They should move swiftly to locate and rescue survivors, the Ministry of Public Security ordered.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) has told schools in the southwest China quake zone to suspend classes according to local needs, according to ministry spokesman Wang Xuming.

On Wednesday, the MOE and the Ministry of Finance allocated an emergency fund of 50 million yuan (7.14 US dollars) to assist teachers and students.

About 10,000 medical workers, from both Sichuan Province and outside including army and police medical teams, are working in quake-hit areas, according to vice health minister Gao Qiang.

(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2008)