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A massive search and rescue operation is under way in south-western China after one of the most powerful earthquakes in decades.
Troops have arrived in Wenchuan county at the epicentre, which was largely cut off by the quake – but heavy rain is hampering rescue operations.
Elsewhere in Sichuan province, frantic efforts are being made to reach thousands of people under the rubble.
The death toll is now more than 12,000, officials say, and looks set to rise.
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In one city, Mianyang, near the epicentre, more than 18,000 people are said to be buried under the rubble and 3,629 have been confirmed dead, state news agency Xinhua reports.
In the nearby town of Mianzhu, at least 4,800 people are trapped under the rubble and massive landslides have buried roads to outlying villages, Xinhua says.
Premier Wen Jiabao was quick to reach the scene and urged rescuers to clear roads into the worst-hit areas as fast as possible.
“As long as there is even a little hope, we will redouble our efforts 100 times and will never relax our efforts,” he told crying locals through a loudhailer in the badly hit Dujiangyan city, south-east of the epicentre.
The health ministry has made an urgent appeal for people to give blood to help the injured.
- In: 746 | Asia-Pacific | BBC NEWS | china | for | Search | survivors
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A massive search and rescue operation is under way in south-western China after one of the most powerful earthquakes in decades.
Troops have arrived in Wenchuan county at the epicentre, which was largely cut off by the quake – but heavy rain is hampering rescue operations.
Elsewhere in Sichuan province, frantic efforts are being made to reach thousands of people under the rubble.
The death toll is now more than 12,000, officials say, and looks set to rise.
|
|
In one city, Mianyang, near the epicentre, more than 18,000 people are said to be buried under the rubble and 3,629 have been confirmed dead, state news agency Xinhua reports.
In the nearby town of Mianzhu, at least 4,800 people are trapped under the rubble and massive landslides have buried roads to outlying villages, Xinhua says.
Premier Wen Jiabao was quick to reach the scene and urged rescuers to clear roads into the worst-hit areas as fast as possible.
“As long as there is even a little hope, we will redouble our efforts 100 times and will never relax our efforts,” he told crying locals through a loudhailer in the badly hit Dujiangyan city, south-east of the epicentre.
The health ministry has made an urgent appeal for people to give blood to help the injured.
- In: aid | Asia-Pacific | BBC NEWS | Burma | effort | The
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As the scale of the devastation in Burma becomes apparent, several organisations are working to bring relief to the survivors. Below are details of some of the efforts both inside and outside Burma.
The UN has promised to release $10m from its Central Emergency Relief Fund. A four-person disaster assessment team has received visas for Burma.
World Food Programme
WFP has four aircraft ready to fly into Burma. Two contain a total of 25 tons of high-energy biscuits. A third is stocked with more biscuits and portable storage tents. A fourth is carrying UN emergency response equipment. They are awaiting permission to land in Burma.
WFP’s in-country staff have already distributed 90 tons of rice to victims of the cyclone. But WFP says many people do not have equipment needed to cook rice, which is why getting the nutrient-rich biscuits in is so important.
UNHCR
People are waiting across southern Burma for supplies to arrive
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The UN refugee agency plans to deliver supplies via the crossing at Mae Sot on the Thai-Burma border.
Plastic sheets and tents capable of housing 10,000 people will be sent via truck to cyclone-hit areas, once permission for the border crossing is received.
Unicef
Personnel on the ground have been distributing pre-positioned supplies such as water purifying solutions, rehydration salts, tarpaulins and family kits, which include cooking equipment.
Red Cross
Twenty-seven thousand volunteers are already involved in the relief operation under the auspices of the Burmese Red Cross.
Many people have lost their homes and have no access to shelter
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A regional disaster manager is in the country and two more experts are due in. The first consignment of supplies – shelter kits – is due to be flown from Kuala Lumpur to Rangoon today. Eight tons of additional relief supplies – tarpaulins and jerry cans – are also to be sent on a commercial flight tonight.
A number of visas for officials are pending in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.
Save the Children
In-country staff have distributed basic necessities such as water, rice, salt and cooking oil to 50,000 people in Rangoon township, 9,000 of them children.
A convoy carrying food, water and plastic sheets is making its way on trucks and boats into the delta region – further decisions will be made on the basis of what that convoy finds.
The organisation is seeking permission to bring in supplies from Thailand and Indonesia. It also wants to increase its staffing capacity.
Medecins Sans Frontieres
In-country teams have distributed plastic sheeting, jerry cans and fuel for water pumps to some 5,000 people. Teams have also given food rations for one week to 1,000 people in the Twantey area west of Rangoon.
MSF is seeking visas for 20 international staff, and a cargo plane carrying 40 tons of first aid materials, plastic sheeting and other goods is ready to leave from Europe.
Merlin
The British medical aid agency is going to use a 180ft river cruiser to deliver medical supplies to areas of the delta.
The boat is due to dock in Laputta on Sunday and then function as a warehouse and a hospital, including emergency operation units. Supplies to stock the boat are being flown out.
Several countries have flown supplies in to Burma
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India has already sent in two aircraft loaded with food, tents, blankets and drinking water. Two ships carrying supplies have also reached Rangoon. The supplies will be handed over to Burmese authorities for delivery.
China has sent a plane carrying 60 tons of aid to Rangoon. Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Bangladesh, Laos and Indonesia have all flown in emergency supplies.
Several other nations, including the US and France, say they are ready to act if the government gives its approval.
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