Premier Wen Jiabao yesterday promised the residents of this earthquake-stricken county that the government is doing everything it can to look after their needs.

The county was shaken by a 6.4-magnitude earthquake early Sunday morning, damaging most houses and completely destroying many others.

Thousands of homeless local residents had to sleep in tents amid fears of possible aftershocks.

Wen, together with Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu, provincial leaders and officials from various ministries visited the county yesterday.

A rain shower had stopped just before the officials arrived, and some residents were spreading their wet sheets out to dry under the scorching sun.

Wen, who was dressed in a white shirt, was immediately recognized and surrounded by residents at a central square where lines of blue tents were set up.

He inspected the tents and occasionally stopped to chat with the residents inside.

It took him about half an hour to tour the 100-m square.

Residents applauded him wherever he went.

After visiting the temporary clinics on one side of the square, Wen stopped to make a brief speech before leaving.

"Comrades, you have done a great job," Wen said while waving to the assembled residents.

"The weather is very hot," he said. "(I hope) everyone will take good care!"

"I know that your biggest concern is when new houses will be built.

"As I have said several times already, we will try our best to get through the reconstruction work as soon as possible," he said.

Wen then listed several priority steps to be taken.

"The first is a quick appraisal to see which houses are dangerous and which ones can still be reconstructed," he said.

"The second is to select a suitable place to construct the new houses.

"And the third is to build them fast," he said.

He also visited one of the hardest-hit villages and a temporary school made of tents.

On Monday, Vice-Governor Kong Chuizhu said all the residents will be moved into new houses by Spring Festival next year.

The 180,000 people of Ning'er County are mainly from the Hani and Yi ethnic minority groups.

(China Daily June 6, 2007)