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China sifts rubble for survivors China sifts rubble for survivors
(40 minutes later)
China has been sifting rubble for survivors of the deadly quake which hit the remote Qinghai region and left thousands of people homeless.China has been sifting rubble for survivors of the deadly quake which hit the remote Qinghai region and left thousands of people homeless.
Rescuers continued to search with their bare hands and picks 30 hours after the quake as heavy lifting equipment rolled towards the mountainous Tibetan area. Rescuers continued to search with their bare hands and picks 30 hours after the quake as heavy lifting equipment rolled towards the mountainous area.
Officials say 617 people died and 9,980 were injured when the quake struck Yushu county early on Wednesday.Officials say 617 people died and 9,980 were injured when the quake struck Yushu county early on Wednesday.
But 313 people are missing and the death toll is expected to rise.But 313 people are missing and the death toll is expected to rise.
At night, people were crying and shouting Ren Yu Eyewitness in JieguAt night, people were crying and shouting Ren Yu Eyewitness in Jiegu
Long columns of military vehicles carrying diggers and other heavy lifting equipment, along with busloads of rescue workers and loories full of aid, rumbled all night along the 1,000 km-long (620-mile) motorway separating Yushu from the provincial capital, Xining. Long columns of military vehicles carrying diggers and other heavy lifting equipment, along with busloads of rescue workers and lorries full of aid, rumbled all night along the 1,000 km-long (620-mile) motorway separating Yushu from the provincial capital, Xining.
The first of the vehicles are due to arrive in the disaster zone within hours.The first of the vehicles are due to arrive in the disaster zone within hours.
Relief flights carrying medical workers and supplies have been landing in Yushu airport but the road to the town of 70,000 people has been blocked by a landslide, the Associated Press news agency reports from Qinghai's provincial capital, Xining.Relief flights carrying medical workers and supplies have been landing in Yushu airport but the road to the town of 70,000 people has been blocked by a landslide, the Associated Press news agency reports from Qinghai's provincial capital, Xining.
In the township of Jiegu, 85% of buildings were destroyed, officials say, and state TV has been showing street after street reduced to rubble.In the township of Jiegu, 85% of buildings were destroyed, officials say, and state TV has been showing street after street reduced to rubble.
Several schools collapsed and at least 56 students are known to have died, 22 of them in a school in Yushu.Several schools collapsed and at least 56 students are known to have died, 22 of them in a school in Yushu.
Chinese President Hu Jintao has called for an all-out effort to save as many people as possible and some 5,000 rescuers, including 700 soldiers, have been sent to the disaster area.Chinese President Hu Jintao has called for an all-out effort to save as many people as possible and some 5,000 rescuers, including 700 soldiers, have been sent to the disaster area.
The civil affairs ministry said it was to send 5,000 tents, 50,000 coats and 50,000 quilts as local officials in Yushu reported a lack of tents, medicines and medical equipment.The civil affairs ministry said it was to send 5,000 tents, 50,000 coats and 50,000 quilts as local officials in Yushu reported a lack of tents, medicines and medical equipment.
China has received messages of sympathy and offers of aid from foreign states including Japan, Russia and France.China has received messages of sympathy and offers of aid from foreign states including Japan, Russia and France.
Rescued after 12 hoursRescued after 12 hours
Chinese TV showed rescue workers with flashlights searching rubble through the night, in low temperatures, as aftershocks continued.Chinese TV showed rescue workers with flashlights searching rubble through the night, in low temperatures, as aftershocks continued.
About 900 people have been pulled out alive since the quake struck at 0749 on Wednesday (2349 GMT Tuesday), at the shallow depth of 10km (six miles), Chinese media say.About 900 people have been pulled out alive since the quake struck at 0749 on Wednesday (2349 GMT Tuesday), at the shallow depth of 10km (six miles), Chinese media say.
It was measured as magnitude 6.9 by the US Geological Survey while the China Earthquake Networks Centre measured it as 7.1.It was measured as magnitude 6.9 by the US Geological Survey while the China Earthquake Networks Centre measured it as 7.1.
A group of workers found a girl trapped for more than 12 hours under a heap of debris.A group of workers found a girl trapped for more than 12 hours under a heap of debris.
"I can't feel my arm," she said as some rescuers talked to her and fed her water while others searched for pieces of wood to prop up the rubble that had entrapped her."I can't feel my arm," she said as some rescuers talked to her and fed her water while others searched for pieces of wood to prop up the rubble that had entrapped her.
As she was carefully pulled out carried her to a stretcher, she could be heard saying: "I'm sorry for the trouble. Thank you, I will never forget this."As she was carefully pulled out carried her to a stretcher, she could be heard saying: "I'm sorry for the trouble. Thank you, I will never forget this."
Wu Yong, a local army commander, said the death toll could rise "as lots of houses collapsed".Wu Yong, a local army commander, said the death toll could rise "as lots of houses collapsed".
Rescue operations were being hampered by the fact that the quake disrupted telecommunications, knocked out electricity and triggered landslides.Rescue operations were being hampered by the fact that the quake disrupted telecommunications, knocked out electricity and triggered landslides.
'Cries of pain''Cries of pain'
In Xining, soldiers, fire-fighters and rescue workers with sniffer dogs thronged the airport, which closed to civilian flights for several hours to make way for relief planes.In Xining, soldiers, fire-fighters and rescue workers with sniffer dogs thronged the airport, which closed to civilian flights for several hours to make way for relief planes.
Efforts were being slowed down by the lack of jet fuel stored at Yushu airport. Relief planes are having to carry extra fuel, limiting their space for supplies.Efforts were being slowed down by the lack of jet fuel stored at Yushu airport. Relief planes are having to carry extra fuel, limiting their space for supplies.
RECENT DEADLY QUAKES Feb 2010: Magnitude 8.8 quake in central Chile kills at least 450Jan 2010: About 230,000 die in magnitude 7.0 tremor in HaitiApril 2009: Quake measuring 6.3 in L'Aquila, Italy, kills 300 peopleMay 2008: 87,000 die in 7.8 scale tremor in Sichuan province, ChinaOct 2005: Quake measuring 7.6 hits north Pakistan, killing 73,000 History of deadly earthquakes 'No link' between Chinese quakesRECENT DEADLY QUAKES Feb 2010: Magnitude 8.8 quake in central Chile kills at least 450Jan 2010: About 230,000 die in magnitude 7.0 tremor in HaitiApril 2009: Quake measuring 6.3 in L'Aquila, Italy, kills 300 peopleMay 2008: 87,000 die in 7.8 scale tremor in Sichuan province, ChinaOct 2005: Quake measuring 7.6 hits north Pakistan, killing 73,000 History of deadly earthquakes 'No link' between Chinese quakes
As local officials struggled to find accommodation for the thousands of people left homeless, weather forecasters were predicting wind and sleet in the coming days, putting victims at risk of exposure.As local officials struggled to find accommodation for the thousands of people left homeless, weather forecasters were predicting wind and sleet in the coming days, putting victims at risk of exposure.
Luo Song, a monk from a monastery in Yushu county, said his sister who worked at an orphanage there had told him three children were sent to a hospital but the facilities lacked equipment.Luo Song, a monk from a monastery in Yushu county, said his sister who worked at an orphanage there had told him three children were sent to a hospital but the facilities lacked equipment.
"She said the hospitals are facing a lot of difficulty right now because there are no doctors, they have only bandages, they can't give injections, they can't put people on intravenous drips," he told AP by phone from the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen."She said the hospitals are facing a lot of difficulty right now because there are no doctors, they have only bandages, they can't give injections, they can't put people on intravenous drips," he told AP by phone from the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen.
In Jiegu, hotel manager Ren Yu said it was like being in a war zone.In Jiegu, hotel manager Ren Yu said it was like being in a war zone.
"It's a complete mess," he said."It's a complete mess," he said.
"At night, people were crying and shouting. Women were crying for their families. Some of the people have broken legs or arms but all they can get now is an injection. They were crying in pain.""At night, people were crying and shouting. Women were crying for their families. Some of the people have broken legs or arms but all they can get now is an injection. They were crying in pain."
Harrowing photographs on Wednesday showed emergency workers removing dust-covered dead infants from rubble.Harrowing photographs on Wednesday showed emergency workers removing dust-covered dead infants from rubble.
The high-altitude region is prone to earthquakes but, according to the US Geological Survey, this was the strongest tremor within 100km of the area since 1976.The high-altitude region is prone to earthquakes but, according to the US Geological Survey, this was the strongest tremor within 100km of the area since 1976.
In 2008, a huge quake struck neighbouring Sichuan province, about 800km from Yushu. That left 87,000 people dead or missing and five million homeless.In 2008, a huge quake struck neighbouring Sichuan province, about 800km from Yushu. That left 87,000 people dead or missing and five million homeless.
Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the quake, or have you seen or heard anything? Send your comments using the form below.Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the quake, or have you seen or heard anything? Send your comments using the form below.
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