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China steps up rescue operation China airdrop for quake survivors
(about 2 hours later)
China is mobilising 30,000 extra troops and 90 helicopters to help with the rescue operation after Monday's devastating earthquake. China is mobilising 30,000 extra troops and 90 more helicopters to help with the rescue operation after Monday's devastating earthquake.
About 10 million people in Sichuan province have been directly affected by the 7.9 quake that flattened entire villages, state media said.About 10 million people in Sichuan province have been directly affected by the 7.9 quake that flattened entire villages, state media said.
Nearly 15,000 people are known to have been killed, and another 26,000 are still trapped in the rubble.Nearly 15,000 people are known to have been killed, and another 26,000 are still trapped in the rubble.
The extra troops will bring food and water, and help to rescue survivors.The extra troops will bring food and water, and help to rescue survivors.
They will add to the efforts of tens of thousands of soldiers already despatched to the region to dig any remaining survivors out of the rubble and bring food, medicine and drinking water to those made homeless. We must use all our forces, and save lives at whatever costs Prime Minister Wen Jiabao class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7401482.stm">Survivors rally together class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7402017.stm">UK tourists 'safe' in China class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7400524.stm">Anger over 'shoddy schools'
They will add to the efforts of almost 50,000 soldiers and police already despatched to the region to dig any remaining survivors out of the rubble and bring food, medicine and drinking water to those made homeless.
The Chinese government has appealed to the public to donate basic equipment to help in the rescue operation. It said hammers, cranes, shovels and rubber boats were urgently needed.
China's air force, army aviation and civil aviation have carried out the largest non-combat air operation in the three days since the disaster, state news agency Xinhua said.
Elite troops have been parachuted in to isolated or cut off areas and officials say every affected county has now been reached and rescue efforts started.
The BBC's Dan Griffiths in Dujiangyan says the relief operation is massive, but there is little chance of finding anyone else alive.
See a detailed map of quake zone
Troops were deployed to Zipingku dam, to repair cracks caused by the earth tremors. It has now been pronounced stable and safe, but there are concerns for almost 400 other dams in the area that may also have been damaged, he says.
LandslidesLandslides
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The Chinese military plans to conduct large-scale airdrops of food, clothing and blankets over the worst-hit areas, including the districts of Beichuan and Wenchuan.The Chinese military plans to conduct large-scale airdrops of food, clothing and blankets over the worst-hit areas, including the districts of Beichuan and Wenchuan.
The helicopters are needed because many of the roads in the mountainous area near the epicentre have been badly damaged by the earthquake or have been covered by landslides.The helicopters are needed because many of the roads in the mountainous area near the epicentre have been badly damaged by the earthquake or have been covered by landslides.
Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said: "We must use all our forces, and save lives at whatever costs.
Injured have been air-lifted from the quake-hit town of Yingxiu
"Life is the most precious thing."
The relief effort has also been hampered by bad weather, while an aftershock was reported in Yingxiu, a town close to the quake's epicentre where more than three-quarters of the 10,000 residents perished.The relief effort has also been hampered by bad weather, while an aftershock was reported in Yingxiu, a town close to the quake's epicentre where more than three-quarters of the 10,000 residents perished.
As of Wednesday evening local time, three remote villages in the mountains in Mianzhu county had not yet been reached because roads were blocked, according to Xinhua news agency. A local resident who had walked out of one of the isolated villages, Qingping, said half of the village's population of 2,000 was injured, and survivors were in need of medicine and drinking water, Xinhua reported.
A local resident who had walked out of one of the villages, Quinping, said half of the village's population of 2,000 was injured, and survivors were in need of medicine and drinking water, the agency reported.
Few survivorsFew survivors
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
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 official toll for the number of dead now stands at 14,866, Xinhua news agency reports.The official toll for the number of dead now stands at 14,866, Xinhua news agency reports.
It is three days since the earthquake hit and the number of survivors being rescued is dropping.It is three days since the earthquake hit and the number of survivors being rescued is dropping.
The head of China's Seismological Bureau, Liu Yuchen, said 82 survivors had been dug out of debris on Wednesday, including a pregnant woman.The head of China's Seismological Bureau, Liu Yuchen, said 82 survivors had been dug out of debris on Wednesday, including a pregnant woman.
Rescuers took six hours to pull another person out, he said.Rescuers took six hours to pull another person out, he said.
Tens of thousands of people made homeless are staying in tents and makeshift shelters that line the streets of ruined towns and villages.Tens of thousands of people made homeless are staying in tents and makeshift shelters that line the streets of ruined towns and villages.
See a detailed map of quake zone
In the town of Hanwang survivors were seen at the side of the road begging for food and water from passing cars, the Associated Press reported.In the town of Hanwang survivors were seen at the side of the road begging for food and water from passing cars, the Associated Press reported.
The Chinese government says it has allocated another 250m yuan ($35m) for aid, bringing its disaster spending to 1.11bn yuan.The Chinese government says it has allocated another 250m yuan ($35m) for aid, bringing its disaster spending to 1.11bn yuan.
Members of the public have also donated millions of yuan in both cash and goods.Members of the public have also donated millions of yuan in both cash and goods.
Far from the earthquake zone in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, people have been giving blood and donating clothing.Far from the earthquake zone in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, people have been giving blood and donating clothing.
Relief organisations in Taiwan are also sending two plane loads of relief materials and volunteers to south-west China.Relief organisations in Taiwan are also sending two plane loads of relief materials and volunteers to south-west China.
Around 150 tonnes of goods - including tents, sleeping bags and blankets - are being sent in the first two cargo flights, donated by several Taiwanese religious and charity groups.Around 150 tonnes of goods - including tents, sleeping bags and blankets - are being sent in the first two cargo flights, donated by several Taiwanese religious and charity groups.


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