Weather hampers rescue efforts, China quake toll over 12,000

Tue, May 13 07:40 PM

Raghavendra Beijing, May 13 (PTI) Racing against time, inclement weather and frequent aftershocks, rescuers dug through rubble of toppled schools, factories and houses looking for thousands trapped underneath as the toll from the deadliest quake to hit China in three decades crossed 12,000 today. The toll now exceeds 12,000 in Sichuan province alone, according to state media, and may go up further as at least 10,000 people remained buried in Mianzhu city in the province while 3,629 people had been confirmed dead and 18,645 were buried under the debris in Mianyang city.

Thousands of Chinese troops and medical teams have been dispatched to the worst-affected Sichuan province. Hampered by rain, blocked roads and broken communication networks, rescuers dug through rubble of toppled schools, factories and houses as they reached the worst-hit areas near the epicentre in Wenchuan county.

Another 34,000 troops were advanced towards the disaster-struck regions by plane, train, road and even foot. The Sichuan provincial seismological bureau said more than 1,180 aftershocks up to magnitude six on the Richter scale have been recorded today, a day after the massive 7.8 magnitude quake hit southwest China.

Premier Wen Jiabao, who flew to Sichuan last evening, said the situation in the quake-hit area was worse than previously feared and said: "People are trapped in debris. We must use every second.

" In Beichuan County, about 160 kilometers northeast of the epicentre, rescuers were searching frantically for survivors in the debris under which at least 1,000 students and teachers were buried when a school in the county collapsed. PTI.

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