Storms hamper China quake rescue

It is feared many tens of thousands have lost their lives, and heavy storms are hampering attempts to reach the victims of China's deadliest earthquake for 30 years.

2,000 aftershocks have already hit the area, and dams could burst as rivers reach dangerous levels.

The quake, now upgraded to 7.9 magnitude, hit at 1428 hours local time on Monday, with an epicentre in the remote mountainous area of Wenchuan in south western China.

Most damage is in the south western Sichuan province, where the governor says more than 12,000 people have died.

30 miles away, in Mianzhu, 10,000 people remain trapped under rubble, including schoolchildren and several thousand workers in a turbine factory.

More than 18,500 people are missing in the city of Mianyang.

In neighbouring Beichuan County, up to 80 per cent of buildings have collapsed.

Hundreds of people are reported missing after two chemical plants were flattened in Shifang, spilling tons of liquid ammonia.

The fate of 15 British tourists visiting a panda breeding centre in Woolong is still unknown.

Some viewers may find images in the accompanying report deeply distressing

Share this article

Send this article to a friend »

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Reddit
• Facebook
• StumbleUpon

What are these?