China's quake-hit province of Sichuan has vowed to severely punish those who impropriated rescue tents, which are urgently needed for sheltering 5 million homeless quake victims.

Li Chengyun, vice governor of Sichuan, said here on Friday he and other officials had learned about the matter either through mobile phone short messages or via the Internet.

"We believe they are individual cases, " Li said at a press conference held by the Information Office of the State Council.

He said that discipline and supervision authorities have carried out investigations on the use of rescue goods in Sichuan, and vowed to severely punish those who misappropriated rescue tents.

Rescue authorities urgently need tents to shelter 5 million homeless quake victims, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 23, 2008)