China

World powers and Asia rally to help after quake kills thousands

Article published on the 2008-05-13 Latest update 2008-05-14 06:19 TU

Almost 1,000 pupils and teachers were killed after the quake hit this college in Dujiangyan in Sichuan.
( Photo : Reuters )

World powers and Asian countries have rallied around China with  pledges of help after a massive earthquake killed at least ten thousand people and left thousands missing or trapped. The death toll is expected to rise dramatically, with 10,000 people thought to be buried in one town alone, near the epicentre of the earthquake. President Wen Jiabao has called for urgent efforts to reach cut-off areas.

"The situation is worse than we previously estimated and we need more people here to help," Wen said.

Speaking from the disaster relief headquarters north-west of Sichuan's provincial capital, Chengdu, he said roads to towns at the quake's epicentre had to be cleared.

Wang Bo-hua of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent in Beijing told RFI that storms and pouring rain are hampering aid efforts, preventing the military from airdropping supplies.

He predicts that the the death toll will rise.

The 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck Monday near Chengdu, flattening schools and factories.

A series of aftershocks rocked the region in the following hours. Many of the victims were schoolchildren who were in class at the time the quake hit. In the city of Dujiangyan close to the epicentre, rescuers were digging through the remains of a school, trying to locate 900 children who were in the building when it collapsed.

Pledges of support have come in from across the globe.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy offered support. "I would like to let you know that I am deeply moved and would like to assure you of France's support for the Chinese people in this difficult moment," Sarkozy said in a letter to Hu.

US President George Bush echoed his sentiments. "I am particularly saddened by the number of students and children affected by this tragedy," he said. 

China's neighbours have also expressed their condolences, with close ally Pakistan saying it was shocked by the disaster.

Japan said its rescue teams were on standby but said it expected that Beijing preferred to handle the disaster on its own.

Taiwan, which China regards as a renegade province, also offered condolences and pledged support.