This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7397489.stm

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 11 Version 12
Search for China quake survivors Search for China quake survivors
(about 3 hours later)
A massive search and rescue operation is under way in south-western China after one of the most powerful earthquakes in decades.A massive search and rescue operation is under way in south-western China after one of the most powerful earthquakes in decades.
Troops have arrived in Wenchuan county at the epicentre, which was largely cut off by the quake - but heavy rain is hampering rescue operations.Troops have arrived in Wenchuan county at the epicentre, which was largely cut off by the quake - but heavy rain is hampering rescue operations.
Elsewhere in Sichuan province, frantic efforts are being made to reach thousands of people under the rubble.Elsewhere in Sichuan province, frantic efforts are being made to reach thousands of people under the rubble.
The death toll is now nearly 12,000, an official said, and looks set to rise. The death toll is now more than 12,000, officials say, and looks set to rise.
Chaotic yet organised rescue effortIn pictures: Rescue effort href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7398083.stm">Eyewitness: 'Constant aftershocks' class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7397845.stm">Chaotic yet organised rescue effortIn pictures: Rescue effort
Premier Wen Jiabao was quick to reach the scene, and urged rescuers to clear roads into the worst-hit areas as fast as possible. In one city, Mianyang, near the epicentre, more than 18,000 people are said to be buried under the rubble and 3,629 have been confirmed dead, state news agency Xinhua reports.
"As long as there is even a little hope, we will redouble our efforts 100 times and will never relax our efforts," he told crying locals in the badly hit Dujiangyan city, south-east of the epicentre. In the nearby town of Mianzhu, at least 4,800 people are trapped under the rubble and massive landslides have buried roads to outlying villages, Xinhua says.
Premier Wen Jiabao was quick to reach the scene and urged rescuers to clear roads into the worst-hit areas as fast as possible.
"As long as there is even a little hope, we will redouble our efforts 100 times and will never relax our efforts," he told crying locals through a loudhailer in the badly hit Dujiangyan city, south-east of the epicentre.
The health ministry has made an urgent appeal for people to give blood to help the injured.The health ministry has made an urgent appeal for people to give blood to help the injured.
See a map of the earthquake areaSee a map of the earthquake area
The BBC's Michael Bristow describes a scene of organised chaos in Dujiangyan - with dazed survivors in the streets in their pyjamas while police try to direct traffic.The BBC's Michael Bristow describes a scene of organised chaos in Dujiangyan - with dazed survivors in the streets in their pyjamas while police try to direct traffic.
He heard the story of two people whose uncle was trapped in the rubble of his apartment building. They were able to speak to him on his mobile phone, but could not reach him and were desperately searching for help. He heard the story of one man whose uncle was trapped in the rubble of his apartment building. He was able to speak to him on his mobile phone, but could not reach him and was desperately searching for help.
Cries for help Panic is rife, he says, and there is a palpable sense of fear. Strong aftershocks have hit regularly, and rumours that others are about to strike have sent people scurrying through the streets, dragging bags behind them.
People do not want to return to their homes, he says, and are preparing to spend another night in the open, in heavy rain, with no power or water.
Waiting in vain
The quake - now upgraded to 7.9 magnitude - struck on Monday at 1428 local time (0628 GMT) and was felt as far away as Beijing and the Thai capital, Bangkok.The quake - now upgraded to 7.9 magnitude - struck on Monday at 1428 local time (0628 GMT) and was felt as far away as Beijing and the Thai capital, Bangkok.
Strong aftershocks continued to shake the region on Tuesday - keeping nervous survivors from returning to their homes.
The earthquake destroyed many roadsThe earthquake destroyed many roads
Boulders and landslides are blocking roads in the worst-hit areas and helicopters have been unable to land because of the bad weather.Boulders and landslides are blocking roads in the worst-hit areas and helicopters have been unable to land because of the bad weather.
Beijing has deployed 50,000 troops to help with relief efforts, but they have not yet all arrived.Beijing has deployed 50,000 troops to help with relief efforts, but they have not yet all arrived.
The 1,300 rescue troops and medics who reached Wenchuan county immediately started searching for survivors and treating the injured, Xinhua reported. About 1,300 rescue troops and medics have reached Wenchuan county and immediately started searching for survivors and treating the injured, Xinhua reported.
There is no word yet on casualty figures there. Previously the only contact with the area was when a senior government official appealed for outside help using a satellite phone. But there is still no word on casualties from the area, where - about 100,000 people live.
In the nearby town of Mianzhu, at least 4,800 people are buried under the rubble and massive landslides have buried roads to outlying villages, Xinhua reported.
Across the region, schools, hospitals and chemical plants were all reported to have been affected.
There were harrowing reports from the scene of a school collapse in Dujiangyan city, where 900 students were buried and at least 50 killed.
AdvertisementAdvertisement
Children pulled from the rubble at the school in DujiangyanChildren pulled from the rubble at the school in Dujiangyan
There were harrowing reports from the scene of a school collapse in Dujiangyan city, where 900 students were buried and at least 50 killed.
Teenagers buried beneath the rubble of the three-storey Juyuan Middle School building struggled to break free, while others cried out for help.Teenagers buried beneath the rubble of the three-storey Juyuan Middle School building struggled to break free, while others cried out for help.
Another of the worst-hit areas appears to be Beichuan county, about 50km from the epicentre. More than 100 people are thought to be buried underneath a hospital that collapsed. Relatives waited at the gate all day on Tuesday, but rescue workers only managed to pull out one body.
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. In Beichuan county, some 80% of buildings were reported to have been destroyed.
Another school collapsed there, leaving more than 1,000 students dead or buried, Xinhua said.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people were reported to have been buried in two collapsed chemical plants in Shifang in Sichuan.Meanwhile, hundreds of people were reported to have been buried in two collapsed chemical plants in Shifang in Sichuan.
Open responseOpen response
More than 150 people were killed in the provinces of Gansu and Shaanxi, and in Chongqing municipality, Xinhua said.More than 150 people were killed in the provinces of Gansu and Shaanxi, and in Chongqing municipality, Xinhua said.
And there are fears for the safety of staff, tourists - including a group of 15 British visitors - and the panda population at a giant panda research centre at Wolong in Wenchuan, which has not yet been contacted. And there are fears for the safety of staff, tourists - including a group of 19 British visitors - and the panda population at a giant panda research centre at Wolong in Wenchuan, which has not yet been contacted.
But 60 pandas at another breeding centre - in Chengdu - are reportedly safe.But 60 pandas at another breeding centre - in Chengdu - are reportedly safe.
China may face calls to reconsider the route of the Olympics torch, which is due to pass through the heart of the quake-hit area next month.
US President George W Bush expressed condolences to victims' families, while the US, Britain, the European Union, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan reportedly offered aid.
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
China's Olympic Games organisers say they will scale down the route of the torch through the country and there will be a minute's silence when the next leg starts in the south-eastern city of Ruijin on Wednesday.
US President George W Bush expressed condolences to victims' families, while the US, UK, the European Union, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan reportedly offered aid.
China said it would accept international help to cope with the quake - the worst since 1976 when 242,000 people were killed in Tangshan - and offered its thanks.China said it would accept international help to cope with the quake - the worst since 1976 when 242,000 people were killed in Tangshan - and offered its thanks.
The government response was praised as "swift and very efficient" by Francis Marcus of the International Federation of the Red Cross in Beijing.The government response was praised as "swift and very efficient" by Francis Marcus of the International Federation of the Red Cross in Beijing.
But he added that the scale of the disaster was such that "we can't expect that the government can do everything and handle every aspect of the needs". But he added the scale of the disaster was such that "we can't expect that the government can do everything and handle every aspect of the needs".
The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Beijing says this is one of the most open and speedy responses to an emergency he has ever seen from Chinese state media.The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Beijing says this 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.
Back to top Back to top
/>
Are you in the area? Can you see the rescue operation? Did you feel the earthquake in your country? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below or text your experiences to: +44 7624 800 100Are you in the area? Can you see the rescue operation? Did you feel the earthquake in your country? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below or text your experiences to: +44 7624 800 100
You can send pictures and video to:You can send pictures and video to:
yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100
If you have a large file you can upload here.Click here to see terms and conditions or go to this address: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/ 2780295.stm#yourpicsIf you have a large file you can upload here.Click here to see terms and conditions or go to this address: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/ 2780295.stm#yourpics
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
Name:
 Name: