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China quake death toll nearly 12,000
by infowe | May 13, 2008 at 05:56 am | 2207 views | 12 comments
Sichuan earthquake death toll reaches 12,012
source: gmook
The death toll from the massive earthquake in central China exceeded 12,000 Tuesday, as rescue workers frantically tried to pull victims from the rubble and clear roads of debris so more relief can be delivered.
A senior official with the Sichuan Provincial government said Tuesday the death toll in the province has surpassed 12,000 and is rising, state-run news agency Xinhua reported.
The death toll in the massive earthquake that rocked central China is at nearly 12,000, officials say. It comes as teams of rescuers battling through rock and mudslides Tuesday arrived at the epicenter of the earthquake.
Troops have arrived in Wenchuan county at the epicentre, which was largely cut off by the quake - but heavy rain is hampering rescue operations.
Elsewhere in Sichuan province, frantic efforts are being made to reach thousands of people under the rubble.
The death toll is now more than 12,000, officials say, and looks set to rise.
In one city, Mianyang, near the epicentre, more than 18,000 people are said to be buried under the rubble and 3,629 have been confirmed dead, state news agency Xinhua reports.
In the nearby town of Mianzhu, at least 4,800 people are trapped under the rubble and massive landslides have buried roads to outlying villages, Xinhua says.
Premier Wen Jiabao was quick to reach the scene and urged rescuers to clear roads into the worst-hit areas as fast as possible.
"As long as there is even a little hope, we will redouble our efforts 100 times and will never relax our efforts," he told crying locals through a loudhailer in the badly hit Dujiangyan city, south-east of the epicentre.
The health ministry has made an urgent appeal for people to give blood to help the injured.
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May 13, 2008 at 05:56 am by infowe, 2207 views, 12 comments
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Comments (12)
at 06:27 on May 13th, 2008
infowe, thanks for the update on the death toll
at 06:31 on May 13th, 2008
I think this is an important story and would benefit from other NowPublic contributors working on it. I've flagged it as News Wanted and invite others in relevant locations to look for more evidence.
at 06:38 on May 13th, 2008
infowe, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 12:13 on May 13th, 2008
Offers of aid and expressions of sympathy are pouring into China. The US, Japan and EU have all offered assistance.
The Chicago Tribune reports that: "The Chinese government said it would welcome outside aid, and Russia was sending a plane with rescuers and supplies, the country's Interfax news agency reported.
But Wang, the disaster relief official, said international aid workers would not be allowed to travel to the affected area.
"We welcome funds and supplies; we can't accommodate personnel at this point," he said."
IOC is offering aid to China, story here. "Rogge, president of the IOC, wrote a letter to Chinese President Hu Jintao on hearing media reports about the earthquake and offered the IOC's support."We send our deepest-felt condolences for the victims. The Olympic Movement is at your side, especially during these difficult moments. Our thoughts are with you,"
at 12:18 on May 13th, 2008
There's a dramatic NRP-radio piece here. "Melissa Block, one of two NPR correspondents who were in China at the time the earthquake struck, visited a school Monday where hundreds of children are feared dead. She recounts the scene where dozens of families, "heads bowed in unspeakable pain," sat with young, lifeless victims."
at 12:42 on May 13th, 2008
FoxNews reports here that: "The official Xinhua News Agency said the death toll exceeded 12,000 in
Sichuan province alone, and 18,645 were still buried in debris in the
city of Mianyang, near the epicenter of Monday's massive, 7.9-magnitude
quake.
The Sichuan Daily newspaper reported on its Web site that more than 26,000 people were injured in Mianyang."
US Geological Survey predicts huge # of deaths in a report here: "I would think there's going to be horrific loss of life in this one,"
says seismologist Lucile Jones of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
office in Pasadena, California. "This is the big earthquake for Sichuan," she says. "It's like San Francisco or Los Angeles having its big one."
at 13:11 on May 13th, 2008
china has allowed foreign help in this hour of crisis so global fraternity should help china with open hands and heart.
at 13:12 on May 13th, 2008
infowe, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 14:33 on May 13th, 2008
infowe, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 14:36 on May 13th, 2008
In Chengdu, China, the local university did not permit students to live in dorms because of potential hazard, so all of students have to live outside with heavy rain later on May 13th.
Bleakhand has contributed a photo to this story.
at 21:39 on May 13th, 2008
Sichuan earthquake death toll reaches 12,012
at 21:44 on May 13th, 2008
infowe, I like this story. It's good stuff.