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Quake effort resumes after panic Quake effort resumes after panic
(10 minutes later)
Rescue efforts are resuming in Beichuan in China, after the entire city was evacuated amid fears that it could be engulfed by a river bursting its banks.Rescue efforts are resuming in Beichuan in China, after the entire city was evacuated amid fears that it could be engulfed by a river bursting its banks.
The city was reduced to ruins by Monday's earthquake, but efforts are still going on to find and dig survivors from the rubble.The city was reduced to ruins by Monday's earthquake, but efforts are still going on to find and dig survivors from the rubble.
But the search was halted on Saturday as rumours of a flood saw a stampede of people fleeing to higher ground.But the search was halted on Saturday as rumours of a flood saw a stampede of people fleeing to higher ground.
The BBC's Paul Danahar said he saw rescuers abandon a man in the rubble.The BBC's Paul Danahar said he saw rescuers abandon a man in the rubble.
Beichuan is close to the epicentre of Monday's devastating quake, in which it is feared about 50,000 people died.Beichuan is close to the epicentre of Monday's devastating quake, in which it is feared about 50,000 people died.
On Saturday the number of confirmed deaths rose to 28,881. The Chinese authorities say that about five million people have been made homeless by the disaster.On Saturday the number of confirmed deaths rose to 28,881. The Chinese authorities say that about five million people have been made homeless by the disaster.
Several people were dug out of the rubble on Saturday, including a 31-year-old woman in Deyang city, and a 33-year-old miner in Shifang, both about 124 hours after being buried.Several people were dug out of the rubble on Saturday, including a 31-year-old woman in Deyang city, and a 33-year-old miner in Shifang, both about 124 hours after being buried.
PanicPanic
Our correspondent in Beichuan says after the flood alert the city went from a scene of rescue and relief into mayhem.Our correspondent in Beichuan says after the flood alert the city went from a scene of rescue and relief into mayhem.
"Everybody just ran - rescuers, army relief teams, medical workers and locals - and people who were in the process of being rescued had to be left behind," he said."Everybody just ran - rescuers, army relief teams, medical workers and locals - and people who were in the process of being rescued had to be left behind," he said.
QUAKE STATISTICS Up to Friday 16 May: 28,881 dead198,347 injured145 aftershocks above level 4, 23 above level 5, biggest 6.1 34,000 medical staff in quake zone181,460 tents, 220,000 quilts despatched6bn Chinese yuan ($860m, £440m) received in donations, from China and abroadDrinking water for 7m people restored Source: Chinese government In pictures: Beichuan evacuationSee a detailed map of quake zoneQUAKE STATISTICS Up to Friday 16 May: 28,881 dead198,347 injured145 aftershocks above level 4, 23 above level 5, biggest 6.1 34,000 medical staff in quake zone181,460 tents, 220,000 quilts despatched6bn Chinese yuan ($860m, £440m) received in donations, from China and abroadDrinking water for 7m people restored Source: Chinese government In pictures: Beichuan evacuationSee a detailed map of quake zone
"We were in the process of filming a man about to be pulled out after hours of digging and the rescue team had to abandon him and run.""We were in the process of filming a man about to be pulled out after hours of digging and the rescue team had to abandon him and run."
The Xinhua news agency warned that a lake, formed by landslides blocking a river, "may burst its bank at any time".The Xinhua news agency warned that a lake, formed by landslides blocking a river, "may burst its bank at any time".
However, the authorities later said the city was not under threat from the water.However, the authorities later said the city was not under threat from the water.
Our correspondent saw troops returning to the city to resume the rescue effort, but no civilians.Our correspondent saw troops returning to the city to resume the rescue effort, but no civilians.
Those inhabitants who had stayed in the city after the quake, or had returned to check on their property or search for loved ones, appeared now to be staying on the surrounding hillsides.Those inhabitants who had stayed in the city after the quake, or had returned to check on their property or search for loved ones, appeared now to be staying on the surrounding hillsides.
"It is not surprising," he says. "This entire community has been shaken to its core, they are surrounded by unstable buildings which threaten to topple at any moment, and the people have been deeply traumatised by what has happened.""It is not surprising," he says. "This entire community has been shaken to its core, they are surrounded by unstable buildings which threaten to topple at any moment, and the people have been deeply traumatised by what has happened."
Mass gravesMass graves
The Chinese government has organised a massive search and rescue effort. It released figures on Saturday demonstrating the scale of the operation.The Chinese government has organised a massive search and rescue effort. It released figures on Saturday demonstrating the scale of the operation.
It said 198,347 people had been recorded injured, not just in Sichuan, where the quake struck, but in Gansu, Shaanxi, Chongqing, Hubei, Henan, and Guizhou provinces.It said 198,347 people had been recorded injured, not just in Sichuan, where the quake struck, but in Gansu, Shaanxi, Chongqing, Hubei, Henan, and Guizhou provinces.
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A woman found under the rubble some 124 hours after the quake
On Friday 26,801 personnel were sent on rescue and relief missions, while 34,000 medical staff were "in the frontline", it said.On Friday 26,801 personnel were sent on rescue and relief missions, while 34,000 medical staff were "in the frontline", it said.
During the day 2,538 people were recovered from the ruins - 165 of whom were still alive.During the day 2,538 people were recovered from the ruins - 165 of whom were still alive.
It said some 181,460 tents, 220,000 quilts, and 170,000 cotton-padded garments had been despatched to the disaster area.It said some 181,460 tents, 220,000 quilts, and 170,000 cotton-padded garments had been despatched to the disaster area.
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BBC reporter at the scene
Rescue teams from South Korea, Singapore and Russia have joined Japanese and Taiwanese experts taking part in the massive search.Rescue teams from South Korea, Singapore and Russia have joined Japanese and Taiwanese experts taking part in the massive search.
The specialist teams are equipped with sniffer dogs, and fibre-optic cameras and heat sensors to detect people buried under the rubble.The specialist teams are equipped with sniffer dogs, and fibre-optic cameras and heat sensors to detect people buried under the rubble.
But experts say the chances of finding people alive are diminishing, and increasingly it is dead bodies which are being retrieved.But experts say the chances of finding people alive are diminishing, and increasingly it is dead bodies which are being retrieved.
The authorities have resorted to burying the bodies in mass graves in an effort to prevent disease.The authorities have resorted to burying the bodies in mass graves in an effort to prevent disease.
In pictures: China's rescue pushDams pose flooding riskLife in tent cityIn pictures: China's rescue pushDams pose flooding riskLife in tent city
People in the quake zone are being told to wear face masks and disinfectant teams are out in force.People in the quake zone are being told to wear face masks and disinfectant teams are out in force.
The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Chengdu says that five days on China's efforts are now squarely focused on getting help to those who survived the earthquake.The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Chengdu says that five days on China's efforts are now squarely focused on getting help to those who survived the earthquake.
Rubble from destroyed buildings is being taken away, streets are being cleared and broken roads repaired.Rubble from destroyed buildings is being taken away, streets are being cleared and broken roads repaired.
In some of the worst hit areas, people now have tents, fresh water, and something to eat.In some of the worst hit areas, people now have tents, fresh water, and something to eat.
The authorities said temporary water supplies had been restored to 70% of quake-hit towns, and that communications and road links were being reopened.The authorities said temporary water supplies had been restored to 70% of quake-hit towns, and that communications and road links were being reopened.
But in more inaccessible parts of the province, the authorities are still struggling to get help to survivors.But in more inaccessible parts of the province, the authorities are still struggling to get help to survivors.

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