More than 50,000 people have likely died in the devastating earthquake that hit the southwest, as time runs out to save survivors buried in the rubble of broken communities.
Experts said the search-and-rescue operation was entering its most crucial phase yet four days after the 7.9-magnitude quake struck, with the chances of finding survivors diminishing by the hour.
"The deaths are estimated to be over 50,000," state television said, citing figures from the national quake relief headquarters.
The epic scale of Monday's quake is becoming clearer as teams hike into the remote epicenter in Sichuan province, where whole towns were leveled.
"If there are some survivors under such conditions, it would be a matter of luck, or a miracle," said Zhang Zhoushu, vice director of the China Earthquake Disaster Prevention Center.
The government appealed to the Chinese public calling for donations of rescue equipment including hammers, shovels, demolition tools and rubber boats.
More than 130,000 soldiers and police joined the relief operation, Xinhua News Agency said.
"This is only a beginning of this battle, and a long way lies ahead of us," Vice Health Minister Gao Qiang told reporters in Beijing.
"We will never give up hope. For every thread of hope, our efforts will increase 100-fold. We will never give up."
source:http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=10&art_id=65902&sid=18952783&con_type=3
