China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) has launched an emergency response to the supply of daily necessities to areas hit by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake Saturday.

The ministry requires local authorities to keep up with market supply situation in quake-hit regions in Ya'an City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, according to a statement posted on its website.

Local authorities should monitor the supplies and prices of daily necessities and make a daily report to the MOC, the statement said.

Provinces near Sichuan should mobilize major enterprises to provide necessary assistance in ensuring market supplies and disaster relief, the MOC said.

The ministry will also help recover business operations in the quake-hit areas and timely release information concerning the supplies of daily necessities and disaster-relief materials.

The quake hit Lushan County of Ya'an at 8:02 a.m. Saturday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center. Death toll from the quake has climbed to 179 till Sunday morning.

(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2013)