The death toll in the Sichuan province quake in China climbed to 192, with 23 people missing, even as the country began airdrop of essential supplies to remote areas hit by the earthquake.

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force carried out its first airdrop operations in quake-hit southwest China on Monday, to deliver food and water for thousands of homeless survivors.

Loaded with bottled water, instant noodles and other food, an Air Force helicopter took off from Qionglai Airport to Baosheng township, where the rescue teams are struggling to reach after landslides blocked the approach roads, a state-run news agency stated.

Roads to many remote towns were blocked by sliding rocks, leaving survivors facing food shortages.

Aftershocks continue to hamper operations as the area recorded 2,360 tremors after the seven magnitude quake on Saturday.

The Chinese Foreign ministry politely refused the aid and help from other countries for the quake-hit areas, saying that the government and the army have been carrying out relief operations on a massive scale and any major movement of vehicles and people on the already crowded roads would hamper operations.

President Xi Jinping said work in the region is being carried out efficiently and Chinese people can overcome difficulties caused by the disaster.