BEIJING - The Ministry of Justice has ordered judiciary departments to ensure stability of prisons in areas ravaged by the 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Southwest China's Sichuan province.

Minister of Justice Wu Aiying said at an emergency meeting held on Saturday that swift measures should be taken to ensure the safety and stability of prisons and other correctional facilities.

Judiciary departments in disaster areas should try and save injured police officers and other personnel, and ensure they have daily necessities and supplies, she said.

Wu ordered strengthened internal administration in prisons and improved education of inmates as well as those in reeducation programs, so as to maintain normal order.

The ministry has dispatched working groups to quake-hit areas to direct relief work in prisons and other correctional facilities.

The earthquake occurred in Lushan county in Sichuan province at 8:02 am on Saturday.