China says quake toll could rise above 50,000

WENCHUAN, China (May 15, 2008): The death toll from China's massive earthquake could soar to more than 50,000, state media reported today, as rescuers struggled to help survivors and hope faded for the thousands buried under rubble.

Already some 20,000 are confirmed dead as a result of Monday (May 12)'s 7.9 magnitude quake and 25,000 remained buried in areas rescuers have struggled to reach, battling landslides, buckled roads, collapsed bridges and wet weather.

The Communist Party leadership told officials to "ensure social stability" in rescue efforts, as the quake spawned rumours of chemical spills, fears of dam bursts and scenes of collective desperation.

Rescuers in the city of Dujiangyan, in the worst-hit province of Sichuan, wrapped corpses dragged from the rubble in tarpaulins and sped them to morgues.

They were so busy that a notice outside one collapsed school asked parents to search for missing children in shifts.

About 130,000 army and paramilitary troops assisted the search and rescue effort in Sichuan, sifting through dozens of towns turned to rubble.

But three days after the quake, hopes of pulling survivors from the ruins dimmed and the waves of rescuers appear to be hampered by lack of specialised equipment.

Still, there were moments of joy and relief. "Thank you, thank you," one 22-year-old said after she was eventually pulled to safety, covering her face against the light in Dujiangyan. She had been trapped, unable to move, under the ruins of a hospital.

- The Sun

50 000 man.. and could be more! gosh, can u imagine your school, all of your buddies and teachers, everybody u know, just gone, in one single day, died! -including u! and when u think about tht, is everything worldly tht u do really matter?