Here is an interesting quote from this link which describes the argument among the Chinese as to whether this quake killed 1/4 million people or 3 times that number.
“The earthquake came in one of the most dramatic years in the history of the People’s Republic. The earthquake was preceded by the death of Zhou Enlai in earlier months and followed by the death of Mao Zedong in September. The political repercussions of the disaster and its aftermath contributed to the end of the Cultural Revolution. Mao’s chosen successor Hua Guofeng showed concern, thereby solidifying his status as China’s leader. He, along with Vice-Premier Chen Yonggui, made a personal visit to Tangshan on August 4 to survey the damage and was photographed in the tasks of cleaning up and comforting the survivors.[14]”
In my readings about the 2013 Qingdao oil pipeline explosion that killed 62 people (see my comment #21 with links to that disaster), I read that the current Chinese leader did exactly the same thing—a personal visit to survey the damage and comfort the survivors. This followed by arresting various officials and heavy inquiries into the responsibility of the Sinopec company for not evacuating people as soon as trouble was spotted.