Chinese Premier Li Keqiang took a helicopter to the epicenter of the 7.0-magnitude earthquake in southwest China's Sichuan Province, soon after his flight arrived in the province Saturday.

During his flight from Beijing, Li convened emergency meetings to direct quake-relief work.

Li left Beijing for Sichuan at 13:15 p.m. after Ya'an City in the province was struck by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake.

"The current most urgent issue is grasping the first 24 hours after the quake's occurrence, the golden time for saving lives, to take scientific rescue measures and save peoples' lives," Li said.

The earthquake hit Lushan County at 8:02 a.m. Beijing time Saturday. Authorities said at least 102 people have been killed in the disaster.