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Death toll rises in China quake Death toll rises in China quake
(about 2 hours later)
The most powerful earthquake to hit China in 30 years has killed at least 10,000 people in south-western Sichuan province, with many more still trapped. The most powerful earthquake to hit China in 30 years has killed at least 10,000 people in south-western Sichuan province, with thousands more trapped.
In one county alone, 80% of buildings collapsed, and up to 5,000 people died. Chinese state media said that 10,000 people were buried in one town alone near the epicentre of the quake in Wenchuan County.
Officials say there is no news yet from the towns at the epicentre, which have a total population of more than 24,000. Premier Wen Jiabao has called for urgent efforts to reach cut-off areas.
President Hu Jintao has urged "all-out" efforts to rescue victims, and has ordered troops to help with disaster relief work. "The situation is worse than we previously estimated and we need more people here to help," he said.
The 7.8 magnitude quake struck on Monday, at 1428 local time (0628 GMT). Speaking from the disaster relief headquarters northwest of Sichuan's provincial capital, Chengdu, he said roads to towns at the quake's epicentre had to be cleared.
The number of dead is expected to rise once contact is made with Wenchuan county, which was at the epicentre of the shock. class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7397529.stm">Latest from Dujiangyan class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7396502.stm">In pictures: China earthquake
Telephone lines to the area are down, and roads are blocked by fallen rocks and boulders. "People's lives and property safety are the top priorities and many people are still trapped in debris," Xinhua news agency quoted him as saying.
class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7397529.stm">Latest from Dujiangyan class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7396502.stm">In pictures: China earthquake The BBC's Michael Bristow, in nearby Chongqing, said torrential rains have also prevented helicopters gaining access. "We must treasure every second and do our utmost to save survivors."
A top official from Wenchuan, Wang Bin, appealed via satellite phone for outside help. The number of dead is expected to rise as rescue workers access worst-hit areas.
"We are in urgent need of tents, food, medicine and satellite communications equipment through air drop," he said. In one county, 80% of buildings were destroyed and up to 5,000 people died.
Cries for help
The 7.8 magnitude quake struck on Monday at 1428 local time (0628 GMT). It was felt as far away as Beijing and the Thai capital, Bangkok.
"We also need medical workers to save the injured people here." In the worst-affected areas, telephone lines are down and roads blocked by fallen rocks and boulders.
Mr Wang was also quoted by the state news agency, Xinhua, as saying that farmers' houses in two of the towns had collapsed, and 30,000 people in the county's main town were staying outdoors, afraid to go home.
See a map of earthquake areaSee a map of earthquake area
Rescue forces are approaching the area on foot. At the epicentre in Wenchuan County, a top official, Wang Bin, appealed via satellite phone for outside help.
Cries for help "We are in urgent need of tents, food, medicine and satellite communications equipment through air drop," he said.
There were also harrowing reports from the scene of a school collapse in Dujiangyan city - south-east of the epicentre - where 900 students were buried and at least 50 dead. "We also need medical workers to save the injured people here."
Teenagers buried beneath the rubble of the three-storey Juyuan Middle School building struggled to break free, while others were cried out for help, Xinhua reported. In the nearby town of Mianzhu, 10,000 people remained buried, Xinhua news agency said.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who rushed to the scene, bowed three times in grief before some of the bodies that were pulled out, according to Xinhua. Schools, hospitals and chemical plants across the region were all reported to have been affected.
"Not one minute can be wasted," Mr Wen is quoted as saying. "One minute, one second could mean a child's life." There were harrowing reports from the scene of a school collapse in Dujiangyan city - south-east of the epicentre - where 900 students were buried and at least 50 dead.
At another school in Dujiangyan, fewer than 100 students out of 420 are reported to have survived after their building collapsed.
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Devastation in ChinaDevastation in China
Teenagers buried beneath the rubble of the three-storey Juyuan Middle School building struggled to break free, while others cried out for help, Xinhua reported.
At another school in Dujiangyan, fewer than 100 students out of 420 are reported to have survived after their building collapsed.
Another of the worst-hit areas appears to be Beichuan county, about 50km from the epicentre.Another of the worst-hit areas appears to be Beichuan county, about 50km from the epicentre.
Some 80% of buildings there were reported to have been destroyed, leaving between 3,000 and 5,000 people dead and up to 10,000 injured.
Premier Wen Jiabao: "Not one minute can be wasted"Premier Wen Jiabao: "Not one minute can be wasted"
Some 80% of buildings there were reported to have been destroyed, leaving between 3,000 and 5,000 people dead and up to 10,000 injured.
Meanwhile hundreds of people were reported to have been buried in two collapsed chemical plants in Shifang in Sichuan, and at least five other schools were reported to be in ruins.Meanwhile hundreds of people were reported to have been buried in two collapsed chemical plants in Shifang in Sichuan, and at least five other schools were reported to be in ruins.
More than 150 people were killed in the other provinces of Gansu and Shaanxi, and in Chongqing municipality, Xinhua said.More than 150 people were killed in the other provinces of Gansu and Shaanxi, and in Chongqing municipality, Xinhua said.
'All-out efforts'
US President George W Bush expressed condolences to victims' families, while Japan offered to send aid.US President George W Bush expressed condolences to victims' families, while Japan offered to send aid.
"The Chinese government are to be commended for their quick and efficient response. The UK stands ready to assist," said British Foreign Secretary David Miliband."The Chinese government are to be commended for their quick and efficient response. The UK stands ready to assist," said British Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
Dozens of aftershocks have been reported since the quake, which was felt in Beijing, and the Thai capital Bangkok.
The earthquake was China's worst since 242,000 people were killed in 1976 by the Tangshan quake.
Sichuan province is the most populated part of China - home to 87 million people.
RECENT CHINA QUAKES March, 2008: 7.2 quake in Xinjiang - damage limitedFebruary 2003: 6.8 quake in Xinjiang - at least 94 dead, 200 hurtJanuary 1998: 6.2 quake in rural Hebei - at least 47 dead, 2,000 hurt April 1997: 6.6 quake hits Xinjiang - 9 dead, 60 hurtJanuary 1997: 6.4 quake in Xinjiang - 50 dead, 40 hurt How earthquakes happenHistory of deadly earthquakesRECENT CHINA QUAKES March, 2008: 7.2 quake in Xinjiang - damage limitedFebruary 2003: 6.8 quake in Xinjiang - at least 94 dead, 200 hurtJanuary 1998: 6.2 quake in rural Hebei - at least 47 dead, 2,000 hurt April 1997: 6.6 quake hits Xinjiang - 9 dead, 60 hurtJanuary 1997: 6.4 quake in Xinjiang - 50 dead, 40 hurt How earthquakes happenHistory of deadly earthquakes
Hundreds of aftershocks have been reported since the quake, China's worst since 1976 when 242,000 people were killed in Tangshan.
Immediately after the disaster, President Hu Jintao has urged "all-out" efforts to rescue victims, and deployed troops to help with disaster relief work.
The BBC's Quentin Somerville says this is probably the most significant natural disaster to hit China in recent memory, but that the Chinese army has a good record of mobilising and getting people to safety.The BBC's Quentin Somerville says this is probably the most significant natural disaster to hit China in recent memory, but that the Chinese army has a good record of mobilising and getting people to safety.
He also says it is one of the most open and speedy responses to an emergency he has ever seen from Chinese state media.He also says it is one of the most open and speedy responses to an emergency he has ever seen from Chinese state media.
The fact the quake was felt in Beijing, he says, means millions of people will feel connected to the disaster and will be watching TV screens closely to see how the government responds.The fact the quake was felt in Beijing, he says, means millions of people will feel connected to the disaster and will be watching TV screens closely to see how the government responds.
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