The most powerful earthquake in 30 years devastated the southwest of the country.
Rescue teams are digging through rubble, trying to reach survivors of a powerful earthquake in China. Bodies covered with sheets lined streets yesterday as rescue workers dug through schools and homes turned into rubble. The total number of casualties remains unknown as heavy storms prevented relief workers from reaching victims at the epicenter of the powerful quake. The official death toll rose to more than 12,000 in Sichuan Province alone, with thousands remained buried or missing.

There was concern today for a group of 15 British tourists missing in the Chinese earthquake. The quake was centered just north of the Sichuan provincial capital, Chengdu, tearing into urban areas and mountain villages. In Mianyang City alone near the epicenter, 3,629 people were dead and 18,645 were still buried in debris, Xinhua reported.

At least 4,800 people also remained buried in Mianzhu, 100km from the epicenter, Xinhua said, citing local authorities. in Gansu Province, a 40-car freight train derailed in the quake that included 13 gasoline tankers was still burning yesterday, Xinhua said.
In Chengdu, gasoline lines grew and people huddled by TVs in shops and hotels watching the news. Grocery stores shelves were almost empty and the fast food restaurant KFC had run out of food.
In Turkey's devastating 1999 earthquake, building codes were excellent, but "fly by night builders" had erected buildings using "extremely poor" materials.
This seems to be the case in China as many schools collapsed. I guess you can buy the building inspector, but you can't buy off the earthquake.
One of the last survivors of the quake, a woman who survived on rainwater was freed after being trapped in rubble for 195 hours The death toll of the Chinese earthquake stands at 40,000 dead.

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Earthquake Hits Western China
The extent of the devastation in China, after an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck, is still being realised. Environment correspondent Catherine Jacob reports
http://www.redcross.org/news/in/profiles/Intl_profile_ChinaE arthquake.html
China praises world's quake aid
The final death toll is expected to reach at least 50,000
Chinese President Hu Jintao has voiced his gratitude for the international aid following Monday's massive earthquake.
"I express heartfelt thanks to the foreign governments and international friends," Mr Hu was quoted as saying by the state-run Xinhua news agency.
Offers of help in the relief effort from home and abroad have now surpassed $800m, Chinese officials say.
The number of confirmed deaths of the quake in the south-western Sichuan province has now risen to 28,881.
More than 10,600 people are believed to be still trapped, Xinhua said, citing regional officials.
The final death toll following the 7.9-magnitude quake is expected to reach at least 50,000 people, Chinese officials estimate

Thousands of people have been killed by Monday's powerful earthquake in just one affected region of central China, its government said, with the toll expected to keep rising as bodies are retrieved from schools, homes and factories.

The death toll quickly rose throughout the day. State-run news agency Xinhua said it had reached 8,533 in Sichuan Province by Monday night, and another 10,000 were believed to be injured.

It reported that authorities were yet to reach Wenchuan County -- which sits at the epicenter of the 7.9-magnitude earthquake with a population of about 112,000 -- because of damage to roads.

In Beichuan County, close to Wenchuan, the number of deaths was estimated at more than 3,000, with 80 percent of the buildings destroyed.

In addition, at least 48 people were killed in the northwest Gansu Province, Xinhua said.

Several hundred students were also feared to be buried in collapsed school buildings, the agency said.

China's Seismological Bureau said the earthquake had affected more than half the country's provinces and municipalities.

U.S. President George W. Bush released a statement saying his country "stands ready to help in any way possible."

"I am particularly saddened by the number of students and children affected by this tragedy," Bush said.

In Sichuan's Shifang city, the quake buried hundreds of people in two collapsed chemical plants, and more than 80 tons of ammonia leaked out, Xinhua said.

The local government evacuated 6,000 civilians from the area after homes and factories were also destroyed.