Archive for the ‘51’ Category
The death toll from the earthquake in China’s Sichuan province has increased to more than 51,000, with another 30,000 people missing.
Officials revised the figure as they made a renewed international appeal for 3.3m tents for survivors of the quake.
Three days of national mourning for victims of the 12 May disaster has now come to an end.
The Olympic torch relay has resumed, but organisers said the Sichuan leg would be delayed because of the quake.
New town planned
A Chinese government spokesman said on Thursday that the death toll in last week’s quake had now reached 51,151, with 29,328 missing and nearly 300,000 injured.
The official death toll on Wednesday was around the 41,000 mark.
The torch relay resumed in Ningbo on Thursday
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Chinese officials say one of the towns worst affected by the earthquake – Beichuan – will be rebuilt on a completely new site.
State media say the location has not yet been decided but is likely to be about 20km (12 miles) from the current town, where 70% of buildings were destroyed.
The 7.9 magnitude quake left some 5m people homeless, with many still sheltering in the open under makeshift tarpaulins more than 10 days after the disaster.
China’s leaders have promised a 70bn yuan ($10 bn; £5bn) reconstruction fund.
Officials have warned that any corrupt practices linked to relief supplies for the quake will be severely punished.
Both domestic and international aid has been flowing into the earthquake zone, with supply planes landing from countries including the US, Russia and Singapore.
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