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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Ban praises China quake response | Ban praises China quake response |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has praised China's "extraordinary leadership" in dealing with the recent earthquake in Sichuan. | UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has praised China's "extraordinary leadership" in dealing with the recent earthquake in Sichuan. |
| He was speaking in the badly-hit town of Yingxiu, as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said the death toll had passed 60,000 and could rise to 80,000. | He was speaking in the badly-hit town of Yingxiu, as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said the death toll had passed 60,000 and could rise to 80,000. |
| Mr Ban said the UN was ready to provide further support for the relief effort. | Mr Ban said the UN was ready to provide further support for the relief effort. |
| Earlier a Chinese official said 50 sources of radiation were now known to have been buried by the earthquake. | Earlier a Chinese official said 50 sources of radiation were now known to have been buried by the earthquake. |
| Thirty-five of the sources had been secured but the remaining 15 were buried under debris or in dangerous buildings, Environment Vice-Minister Wu Xiaoqing said. | Thirty-five of the sources had been secured but the remaining 15 were buried under debris or in dangerous buildings, Environment Vice-Minister Wu Xiaoqing said. |
| QUAKE STATISTICS See a detailed map of quake zoneIn pictures: China begins recoverySichuan tourist trail in ruins | QUAKE STATISTICS See a detailed map of quake zoneIn pictures: China begins recoverySichuan tourist trail in ruins |
| Mr Wu said there had been no leaks of radioactive substances. | Mr Wu said there had been no leaks of radioactive substances. |
| He did not specify the sources but experts say they probably came from hospitals, factories or research facilities, and not weapons. | He did not specify the sources but experts say they probably came from hospitals, factories or research facilities, and not weapons. |
| World support | World support |
| Mr Ban was visiting China between trips to Burma, where is seeking to provide further relief for victims of Cyclone Nargis. | |
| Later on Saturday he flew to Thailand where he opened a centre for cyclone relief supplies, ahead of an aid conference he is scheduled to attend in Rangoon on Sunday. | |
| In Yingxiu, close to the Sichuan earthquake's epicentre, he paid tribute to Beijing's efforts. | In Yingxiu, close to the Sichuan earthquake's epicentre, he paid tribute to Beijing's efforts. |
| "The Chinese government, at the early stage of this natural disaster, has invested strenuous effort and demonstrated extraordinary leadership," he said. | "The Chinese government, at the early stage of this natural disaster, has invested strenuous effort and demonstrated extraordinary leadership," he said. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Ban Ki-moon tours quake-hit Yingxiu | Ban Ki-moon tours quake-hit Yingxiu |
| The secretary general said people all over the world would stand beside the Chinese people and work together to deal with the disaster. | The secretary general said people all over the world would stand beside the Chinese people and work together to deal with the disaster. |
| "If we work hard we can overcome this," he said, quoted by the Associated Press news agency. | "If we work hard we can overcome this," he said, quoted by the Associated Press news agency. |
| "The whole world stands behind you and supports you." | "The whole world stands behind you and supports you." |
| More than five million people have been left homeless by the disaster. | More than five million people have been left homeless by the disaster. |
| On Friday, the vice-governor of Sichuan, the worst-hit province, Li Chengyun, appealed for more tents and set a three-year goal to rebuild towns and infrastructure in the region. | On Friday, the vice-governor of Sichuan, the worst-hit province, Li Chengyun, appealed for more tents and set a three-year goal to rebuild towns and infrastructure in the region. |
| China's leaders have promised a 70bn yuan ($10bn; £5bn) reconstruction fund. | China's leaders have promised a 70bn yuan ($10bn; £5bn) reconstruction fund. |
| The government has also told Chinese banks to forgive debts owed by uninsured survivors to revive Sichuan's economy. | The government has also told Chinese banks to forgive debts owed by uninsured survivors to revive Sichuan's economy. |
| New threat | New threat |
| Meanwhile, concern is growing over a number of new lakes formed by the force of the earthquake. | Meanwhile, concern is growing over a number of new lakes formed by the force of the earthquake. |
| Satellite images reveal a lake forming in Beichuan County See full size images | Satellite images reveal a lake forming in Beichuan County See full size images |
| Thirty-four lakes were created in the province when landslides blocked rivers, Xinhua news agency said. | Thirty-four lakes were created in the province when landslides blocked rivers, Xinhua news agency said. |
| Eight held more than three million cubic metres of water and one lake, less than 3km (two miles) from Beichuan town, had doubled in size in four days. | Eight held more than three million cubic metres of water and one lake, less than 3km (two miles) from Beichuan town, had doubled in size in four days. |
| Officials are monitoring the lakes and have sent experts to assess them, the agency said. | Officials are monitoring the lakes and have sent experts to assess them, the agency said. |
| Forecasters predict heavy rain in the region next week, which could further raise the water levels in the lakes. | Forecasters predict heavy rain in the region next week, which could further raise the water levels in the lakes. |
| Are you in the region? How have you been affected by the earthquake? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below: | Are you in the region? How have you been affected by the earthquake? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below: |
| 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. If you have a large file you can upload here.Click here to see terms and conditions | 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 |
| 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. |