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| Death toll rises in China quake | Death toll rises in China quake |
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| 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. | 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. |
| Chinese state media said that 10,000 people were thought to be buried in one town alone near the epicentre of the earthquake in Wenchuan County. | Chinese state media said that 10,000 people were thought to be buried in one town alone near the epicentre of the earthquake in Wenchuan County. |
| Premier Wen Jiabao has called for urgent efforts to reach cut-off areas. | Premier Wen Jiabao has called for urgent efforts to reach cut-off areas. |
| "The situation is worse than we previously estimated and we need more people here to help," he said. | "The situation is worse than we previously estimated and we need more people here to help," he said. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Latest from DujiangyanIn pictures: China earthquake | Latest from DujiangyanIn pictures: China earthquake |
| "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. | "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. |
| "We must treasure every second and do our utmost to save survivors." | "We must treasure every second and do our utmost to save survivors." |
| The number of dead is expected to rise as rescue workers access worst-hit areas. | The number of dead is expected to rise as rescue workers access worst-hit areas. |
| China has deployed 50,000 troops to help with relief efforts, 16,000 of whom are already in the area. | China has deployed 50,000 troops to help with relief efforts, 16,000 of whom are already in the area. |
| The BBC's Nick Mackie in Dujiangyan says there are hundreds if not thousands of people just sleeping out in the streets under tarpaulins, after torrential rain fell all through the night. | |
| Cries for help | Cries for help |
| The 7.8 magnitude quake struck on Monday at 1428 local time (0628 GMT) and was felt as far away as Beijing and the Thai capital, Bangkok. | The 7.8 magnitude quake struck on Monday at 1428 local time (0628 GMT) and was felt as far away as Beijing and the Thai capital, Bangkok. |
| Boulders and landslides are blocking roads in the worst-hit areas and helicopters have been unable to land because of bad weather. | Boulders and landslides are blocking roads in the worst-hit areas and helicopters have been unable to land because of bad weather. |
| See a map of earthquake area | See a map of earthquake area |
| In Wenchuan County, a top official, Wang Bin, appealed via satellite phone for outside help. | In Wenchuan County, a top official, Wang Bin, appealed via satellite phone for outside help. |
| "We are in urgent need of tents, food, medicine and satellite communications equipment through air drop," he said. | "We are in urgent need of tents, food, medicine and satellite communications equipment through air drop," he said. |
| "We also need medical workers to save the injured people here." | "We also need medical workers to save the injured people here." |
| In the nearby town of Mianzhu, 10,000 people were thought to be buried and massive landslides had buried roads to outlying villages, Xinhua news agency reported. | In the nearby town of Mianzhu, 10,000 people were thought to be buried and massive landslides had buried roads to outlying villages, Xinhua news agency reported. |
| Across the region, schools, hospitals and chemical plants were all reported to have been affected. | 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 - south-east of the epicentre - where 900 students were buried and at least 50 killed. | 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 killed. |
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| Devastation in China | Devastation 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Another school collapsed there, leaving more than 1,000 students dead or buried, Xinhua news agency said. | Another school collapsed there, leaving more than 1,000 students dead or buried, Xinhua news agency said. |
| 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' | '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. 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 earthquakes | "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. 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 earthquakes |
| Several strong aftershocks have been reported since the quake, China's worst since 1976 when 242,000 people were killed in Tangshan. | Several strong 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. | Immediately after the disaster, President Hu Jintao has urged "all-out" efforts to rescue victims. |
| 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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| 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 800 100 | 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 800 100 |
| You can send pictures and video to: | You can send pictures and video to: |
| yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100 | yourpics@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#yourpics | 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#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. |