China shipped its third batch of relief materials to earthquake-hit areas in Pakistan Tuesday afternoon from Shijiazhuang, capital of north China's Hebei Province.

The transport aircraft, loaded with such relief materials and commodities as power generators, tents, food, medicine and medical equipment worthy 24 million yuan (US$3 million), is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan later Tuesday night.

The first two batches of relief materials had been sent to Pakistan from Beijing on Sunday noon and Monday afternoon, respectively.

According to latest reports, the death toll has risen to more than 40,000 in Saturday's earthquake, measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale, which jolted parts of Pakistan, India and Afghanistan.

After the disaster happened, Chinese leaders have sent messages of condolence to the leaders of Pakistan and India and swiftly made the decision of offering US$6.2-million as emergent aids to Pakistan.

A 49-member rescue team from China had arrived in Pakistan Sunday and started work right away. The team has already found three survivals.

(Xinhua News Agency October 12, 2005)