(Yicai Global) Aug. 10 -- A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Jiuzhaigou county in China's southwestern province of Sichuan on Tuesday, causing at least 20 deaths and 431 injuries (including 18 serious ones). Major Chinese technology companies have responded with emergency relief mechanisms to aid the disaster area.

Internet titan Tencent Holdings Ltd.'s [HK:0700] public service network donation platform opened a dedicated contribution channel, offering a way for the public to give to the affected area. The Tencent Charitable Foundation said it chipped in USD1.5 million (CNY10 million) to support emergency relief, post-disaster reconstruction and public education on disaster prevention and mitigation.

Mobile phone manufacturer Huawei Technologies Co. worked closely with operators and set up a group to check the communications facilities in the earthquake-stricken area. It sent more than 60 engineers to assist operators in emergency recovery. Its first rescue team consisting of several engineers rushed to Jiuzhaigou during the night.

JD.com Inc. [NASDAQ:JD], one of China's largest e-commerce platforms, said that its southwest logistics branch initiated its emergency response mechanism immediately after the earthquake occurred and carried out precise rescue and relief in a rapid and effective manner. It said it donated emergency medical kits, lighting equipment, tents and other supplies. It organized transport fleets to convey them to the disaster area.

China's e-commerce platform Suning Corp. said it has urgently transferred raincoats, quilts and other rainproof and cold-resistance supplies as well as drinking water from its warehouse in Chengdu to the disaster area. Its local logistics and transport facilities are on standby state and will respond immediately if the government and charitable organizations need vehicles for rescue.

Online food delivery company Meituan.com said that its riders and salesmen in Zhangzha town gathered and bought more than 200 boxes of mineral water and over 90 cases of instant noodles and delivered them to those in the disaster area who spend their nights outside.

AutoNavi Software Co., a company under internet giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. [NYSSE:BABA], activated its emergency disaster relief scheme, to prioritize review of rescue and relief information at the disaster area, release traffic conditions and remind cars in the area to make way for rescue vehicles.

AutoNavi has released reminders of relief events surrounding Jiuzhaigou county and the information provided by the traffic police of Sichuan province about closures and dedicated rescue routes. It will push notifications to drivers heading for highways on these paths.

The company started a live broadcast for the earthquake rescue to provide information on the affected area by updating progress in real time through texts and images. It uses information from official releases and sources with authority.

Drone maker Da-Jiang Innovations Science and Technology Co. said it has dispatched technical teams and equipment to assist local rescue forces in exploring the disaster situation with drones. While protecting rescuers from dangers, unmanned aerial vehicles can provide safe and reliable references for disaster relief by conducting aerial surveys and tracking the scene to facilitate search and rescue.