BEIJING - A recently-revised national earthquake emergency plan has urged quick response by the local government, the China Earthquake Administration (CEA) said Saturday.

Government authorities at township and county levels should immediately start emergency responses themselves even before instructions from higher authorities and outside aid arrive, said an official with the administration.

The official made the remarks while explaining the highlights of the revised plan, released on the central government's website Friday.

The new plan has drawn on China's experiences of the two major quakes that jolted Sichuan and Qinghai provinces in 2008 and 2010, respectively, according to the official.

After a quake occurs, local government agencies should organize rescue and relief operations immediately, to be joined by quake survivors and rescue teams, as well as arrange appropriate accommodation for the local people, according to the plan.

"They should do the emergency work while reporting the situation to higher authorities and before government help and aids arrive," the official said.