Premier Li Keqiang gave important instructions immediately following a deadly air crash in Taipei on Feb 4.

Chinese Taiwan TransAsia Airways’ Flight ATR-72, which was headed for Kinmen from Taipei on Feb 4 morning, crashed into a Taipei river, leading to fatalities and injuries. The flight had 58 people on board, including 31 passengers from the Chinese mainland, and five crew members.

Premier Li told relevant departments on the Chinese mainland to strengthen communication and contact with the authorities in Taiwan, verify information about deaths and injuries of the passengers on board as soon as possible, and provide all necessary help.

The Premier also instructed relevant regions, including Fujian province, to respond quickly and attend to family members of passengers from the mainland, such as notifying information, psychological counseling and coping with the aftermath.

According to the instruction, as the nation’s Spring Festival travel rush has started, “alarm bells should be ringing constantly” for the authorities including those in civil aviation, highways and railways.

Effective measures should be taken to address the needs of vulnerable sections, and thorough inspections made to eliminate risks and ensure the safety of public transport and shipping, he added.

Emergency workers retrieve the body of a passenger from the wreckage of a plane operated by TransAsia Airways after it crashed in a river in Taipei, Feb 4, 2015 [Photo/Xinhua]

Emergency workers retrieve the body of a passenger from the wreckage of a plane operated by TransAsia Airways after it crashed in a river in Taipei, Feb 4, 2015[Photo/Xinhua]