BEIJING, Aug. 4 -- Dozens more relief staff are being flown to the quake-hit area as rescuers race against time to save lives.

Flight MU 5969, operated by China Eastern Airlines, ferried a team of nearly 30 relief workers from Kunming at 10 am this morning to the quake-impacted city of Zhaotong in China's southwest Yunnan Province, the airliner told Xinhua.

Efforts are being stepped up to save lives after the 6.5-magnitude earthquake killed at least 381 people and injured 1,800 others.

Authorities have sent 7,000 rescuers, including 5,000 soldiers, police officers and firefighters, to the quake-hit areas in Zhaotong City and Qujing City.

The rescue work has been hampered by continuous downpours, which have disrupted traffic, lowered temperatures in the remote area, and made food and medicine shortages even more dangerous.

Two flights from China Eastern Air delivered 148 relief workers to Zhaotong late Sunday evening.

Another flight MU 5989 will land in the city with more rescuers later Monday, the airline added.