China Earthquake Deaths Estimated Over 50,000 in Sichuan Alone, Saudi Arabia Donates $60 Million, World Highest


	The wounded are lifted to a helicopter in Yingxiu Town of Wenchuan County, the epicenter of Monday's massive earthquake on May 14, 2008. (Xinhua, 5/15/08).

China quake deaths estimated over 50,000 in Sichuan alone, 19,509 deaths confirmed

www.chinaview.cn 2008-05-15 19:28:44

CHENGDU, May 15 (Xinhua) --

More than 50,000 people are feared dead in southwest China's Sichuan Province alone after Monday's earthquake, the rescue headquarters of the State Council said Thursday.

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Wenchuan County, about159 km northwest of the provincial capital of Chengdu, has severely affected an area of more than 100,000 square km, according to the rescue headquarters headed by Premier Wen Jiabao.

The confirmed death toll in Sichuan was 19,509 by 4 p.m. Thursday, up by 5,046 from Wednesday's 14,463, Li Chengyun, vice provincial governor of Sichuan told a press conference.

Another 102,103 people were injured and 12,300 buried in the rubble, he said.

Rescuers have pulled 13,400 people alive out of the debris, he said.

The Sichuan provincial government has handed over 670 million yuan (95.7 million U.S. dollars) for disaster relief efforts to quake-hit areas.

More than 100,000 People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers and armed police, 1,235 medical teams, local officials and volunteers were racing the clock for rescue and relief operations.

It was the worst earthquake to strike China since the Tangshan earthquake in northern Hebei Province in 1976, which claimed 242,000 lives.

The tremors were also felt in most parts of the country.

In regions neighboring Sichuan, 280 were killed in Gansu Province, 106 in Shaanxi Province, 14 in Chongqing Municipality, two in Henan Province, one in Yunnan Province and one in Hubei Province.

Editor: Wang Hongjiang

Chinese premier continues inspection in quake-hit Guangyuan, SW China

www.chinaview.cn 2008-05-15 10:05:44

BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua) --

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived at Guangyuan City in southwest China's Sichuan Province here Thursday morning.

Wen spent three hours by ship to go to Muyu Township, Qingchuan County, one of the worst-hit area of Guangyuan City to oversee rescue work and visit survivors.

Monday's quake caused more than 1,400 deaths and 10,000 injuries in Qingchuan as of 4 p.m. Wednesday. More than 460 students were once under ruins of a junior middle school building in Muyu Township and about 150 have been rescued till now.

Wen said to disaster relief personnel, including firemen and medics that "the Party and the country thank and the people need you."

"You should be unafraid of difficulties and sacrifices, devoting yourself to rescue the people," he said.

Junior school student Wang Yunxiao, who survived the quake, cried to the premier that their house was crashed, they would soon be out of food, and he could not go to school.

Wen told her that the house would be rebuilt, food would be sent and school would resume too.

Wen said the Party and the country never forgot the remote quake-hit villages. He encouraged local residents to "rise from sorrow, help each other and rebuild home."

He said that "government is concerned about you and will make the utmost efforts to help you. See, a large number of soldiers are coming. Food, water and tents will also come soon."

He also visited journalists at scene reporting the disaster relief work.

He discussed with relative officials about intensifying rescue work on his way back to Guangyuan City.

Editor: Sun Yunlong

More countries offer aid to quake-hit China

www.chinaview.cn 2008-05-15 13:38:50

BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua) --

Several more countries have offered aid to China whose southwest Sichuan province was hit by a massive earthquake on Monday.

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz has decided to donate 50 million U.S. dollars in cash and 10 million dollars worth of relief materials.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced that his country will provide to China 1 million pounds (about 2 million U.S.) in aid.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said his government will provide a first instalment of 500,000 euros (800,000 U.S. dollars) in aid to the German Red Cross to help China in its relief work.

Also, the Polish Foreign Ministry announced aid worth 100,000 U.S. dollars for China's quake-stricken people.

U.S. delivers aid of 500,000 dollars to China's quake-hit areas

www.chinaview.cn 2008-05-15 00:22:59

BEIJING, May 14 (Xinhua) --

The U.S. embassy to China, on behalf of the U.S. government, Wednesday handed over 500,000 U.S. dollars of cash to the Red Cross Society of China for quake relief in southwestern China.

The White House announced Tuesday that the United States would provide 500,000 dollars in initial aid to China over the devastating quake.

A 7.8-magnitude quake rocked Wenchuan county, 159 km northwest of Chengdu, Sichuan province's capital, at 2:28 p.m. (0628 GMT) Monday, killing nearly 15,000 people in eight affected provinces.

Editor: Mu Xuequan

Russia sends humanitarian aid to quake-hit China

www.chinaview.cn 2008-05-15 00:23:48

MOSCOW, May 14 (Xinhua) --

Russia delivered Wednesday its second batch of humanitarian aid to China where a devastating earthquake has claimed nearly 15,000 lives in its southwestern Sichuan province, local media reported.

A cargo plane from the Emergency Ministry took off here Wednesday evening, carrying some 30 tons of aid to the quake-hit areas.

The first batch of aid arrived at Chengdu, capital of the Sichuan province, earlier Wednesday.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has sent a message of condolence to Chinese President Hu Jintao over the disastrous earthquake and expressed a willingness to offer humanitarian aid.

The earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale, rocked southwestern China, centering in Sichuan province, Monday afternoon.

Chinese rescuers including tens of thousands of troops have rushed to the mountainous region to help the victims out of the debris.

Editor: Mu Xuequan

Japan provides some $ 5 mln in aid to China

www.chinaview.cn 2008-05-13 22:17:59

TOKYO, May 13 (Xinhua) --

The Japanese government has decided Tuesday to give 500 million yen (about 5 million U.S. dollars) of emergency grants in aid to China to support the earthquake disaster relief efforts, Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura announced in the evening.

Komura said the Japanese government made the decision after receiving a request from Beijing, and will consider giving further aid if necessary.

Earlier in the day, Komura and Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura also announced Japan's preparedness to provide rescue and medical assistance as well as aid such as food and tents to China's quake-hit areas.

Disaster relief teams, medical teams comprised of doctors and nurses, dispatch of helicopters, and other forms of assistance are all on standby if necessary, the two ministers said.

Editor: Mu Xuequan

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