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China quake toll close to 15,000 China quake toll close to 15,000
(30 minutes later)
Nearly 15,000 people died in the devastating earthquake that hit China's Sichuan province, the official Xinhua news agency has reported.Nearly 15,000 people died in the devastating earthquake that hit China's Sichuan province, the official Xinhua news agency has reported.
More than 25,000 are still trapped in the rubble two days after the 7.9 quake struck, causing landslides and razing homes, schools and whole villages. More than 25,000 are still trapped in the rubble two days after the 7.9 quake struck, flattening homes, schools and entire villages and cutting roads.
China's Prime Minister Wen Jiabao has flown to the epicentre to see relief work, having met survivors elsewhere. Soldiers have begun to reach the isolated epicentre by helicopter and on foot, bringing much needed supplies.
Soldiers have rushed to a dam above one city over fears for its stability. The government has meanwhile downplayed fears about the stability of a dam.
Some 2,000 troops have been sent to plug cracks in the dam - near the hard-hit city of Dujiangyan - says the Associated Press news agency, citing official Chinese media. State media had earlier reported that soldiers were working to plug cracks in the Zipingpu Dam near the hard-hit city of Dujiangyan, which they described as "extremely dangerous".
But late on Wednesday, a manager of the Zipingpu Development Company said there was no risk of collapse, according to Xinhua state news agency.
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New footage of when earthquake struck, filmed by motorcyclist in ChengduNew footage of when earthquake struck, filmed by motorcyclist in Chengdu
The 2,000-year-old dam feeds the fertile agricultural plain of Sichuan province. The irrigation system it feeds and Dujiangyan would be swamped if it were to fail, authorities have said. No damage has been reported to the massive Three Gorges Dam, also in Sichuan province, but there were concerns about dozens of smaller dams closer to the epicentre.
No damage has been reported to the massive Three Gorges Dam, also in Sichuan province.
Sichuan's Vice-Governor Li Chengyun said incomplete figures suggested 14,463 people were dead, another 14,051 were missing, 25,788 were buried in the debris and 64,746 had been injured, Xinhua reports.Sichuan's Vice-Governor Li Chengyun said incomplete figures suggested 14,463 people were dead, another 14,051 were missing, 25,788 were buried in the debris and 64,746 had been injured, Xinhua reports.
Officials reached the town of Yingxiu, in Wenchuan County, to find the devastation was worse than expected - out of the town's population of 10,000, only 2,300 have been found alive.
See a detailed map of quake zoneSee a detailed map of quake zone
Officials reached the town of Yingxiu, in Wenchuan County, to find the devastation was worse than expected - out of the town's population of 10,000, only 2,300 have been found alive.
The head of a police unit sent into the disaster zone said the losses had been severe.The head of a police unit sent into the disaster zone said the losses had been severe.
"Some towns basically have no houses left," Wang Yi, told Sichuan Online news site. "They have all been razed to the ground.""Some towns basically have no houses left," Wang Yi, told Sichuan Online news site. "They have all been razed to the ground."
The BBC's Michael Bristow says there are collapsed buildings all along the road to the nearby city of Beichuan.
"We are all Chinese people - we've got to help" Du Yingbi Survivors rally togetherMedia examine quake response
Stadiums have been put to use to house the displaced.
Meteorologists are forecasting a small break in the poor weather that has hampered aid efforts.Meteorologists are forecasting a small break in the poor weather that has hampered aid efforts.
Helicopters have now been able to fly into the quake zone to take food, drinking water and medicine to Yingxiu. Helicopters have now been able to fly into the quake zone to take food, drinking water and medicine to Yingxiu - one of the towns in the mountainous area where the quake was centred.
But the weather remains cloudy and more rain is expected at the end of the week, said the National Meteorological Centre.But the weather remains cloudy and more rain is expected at the end of the week, said the National Meteorological Centre.
Slow progress Slow effort
China's Prime Minister Wen Jiabao has flown to the epicentre to see relief work, having met survivors elsewhere.
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 government has despatched tens of thousands of soldiers to the region to dig any remaining survivors out of the rubble and bring food, medicine and drinking water to the survivors.
Roads in the mountainous area have been badly damaged by the earthquake or have been covered by landslides.Roads in the mountainous area have been badly damaged by the earthquake or have been covered by landslides.
"We are all Chinese people - we've got to help" Du Yingbi class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7401482.stm">Survivors rally together class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7400300.stm">Media examine quake response Many soldiers and rescue workers have been making their way to cut off areas by foot. Others have parachuted in or have arrived by helicopter.
Many soldiers and rescue workers have been making their way to cut off areas by foot.
Workers are digging through the rubble of collapsed buildings with their bare hands.Workers are digging through the rubble of collapsed buildings with their bare hands.
Officials for the ministry of transport and ministry of railways told reporters that road conditions were impeding relief work across the province. Rescue workers now say hope is beginning to run out for more than 1,000 people thought to be trapped in a collapsed school building in Juyuan township, near Dujiangyan.
"We may have 10 machines but, given the road condition, only one excavator can used at one time, and we can only push forward one metre by one metre," one said.
Lost generation
In Juyuan township, near Dujiangyan, more than 1,000 people are thought to be trapped in a collapsed school building. More than 50 bodies have been pulled out - but only one girl is reported to have been rescued alive so far.
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
Rescue workers now say hope is running out for the students underneath the rubble, says the BBC's Dan Griffiths in Juyuan.
Weeping parents wait for news as the victims are laid out in the playground.
Due to China's one-child policy, a whole generation of the town's children may be lost, says our correspondent.
At another school, in Qingchuan County, at least 178 children were confirmed dead, killed as they were having a midday sleep.
Among the rescue successes was 34-year-old Zhang Xiaoyan, who is eight months pregnant. She was pulled alive from an apartment that partially collapsed in Dujiangyan.
"It's a miracle brought about by us all working together," Sun Guoli, Chengdu's fire chief told the Associated Press. "It's a miracle of life, using one's life to save a life."
The earthquake on Monday was the worst to strike China since more than 240,000 people were killed in Tangshan in 1976.
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