BEIJING, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- China has deployed satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to aid rescue efforts following a 7.0-magnitude earthquake in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Thursday evening.
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) said on Friday that immediately after the disaster, it coordinated and deployed satellite resources to conduct emergency communication support and imaging of the quake-hit area.
The CASC said it has activated multiple high-throughput satellite internet emergency service lines for the Ministry of Emergency Management, local emergency management authorities, and major telecom operators. Additional service line terminals are on their way to the quake-hit area.
In response to satellite imaging requests for quake relief, the CASC immediately mobilized Gaofen-4 and other satellites to observe the quake-hit area. As of 7 a.m. (Beijing Time) Friday, it had delivered four pre-disaster images and three post-disaster images, providing strong support for rescue and relief operations and disaster assessment.
According to the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), a UAV Wing Loong took off from an airport in Xigaze of Xizang Autonomous Region in the early hours of Friday and flew to the quake-hit area to carry out disaster observation and communication support missions.
The AVIC said other Wing Loong teams are ready for deployment.
Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force also sent a UAV around midnight to the quake-hit area for disaster survey.
Sixteen people were killed and 76 others injured after the earthquake struck Baqen County of Nagqu City in Xizang Autonomous Region at 10:33 p.m. Thursday, local authorities said on Friday. ■
