Monday's earthquake in southwestern China has extracted a far higher death toll than initially assumed. Chinese authorities say up to 5,000 people have been killed in one county alone in the 7.8-magnitude tremor that was felt as far away as Pakistan and Thailand. Thousands of people are believed to have died in the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck southwestern China on Monday, according to Chinese authorities. State media reported that in oneChinese county alone, up to 5,000 people had been killed in the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that sent thousands of people rushing out of buildings and into the streets hundreds of miles away in Beijing and Shanghai. The temblor was felt as far away as Pakistan, Vietnam and Thailand. An estimated 3,000 to 5,000 people were killed in Beichuan county of the mountainous Sichuan province after the quake struck in the early afternoon. The county is about 100 miles from the provincial capital, Chengdu.
Monday's earthquake in southwestern China has extracted a far higher death toll than initially assumed. Chinese authorities say up to 5,000 people have been killed in one county alone in the 7.8-magnitude tremor that was felt as far away as Pakistan and Thailand.
Thousands of people are believed to have died in the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck southwestern China on Monday, according to Chinese authorities.
State media reported that in oneChinese county alone, up to 5,000 people had been killed in the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that sent thousands of people rushing out of buildings and into the streets hundreds of miles away in Beijing and Shanghai. The temblor was felt as far away as Pakistan, Vietnam and Thailand.
An estimated 3,000 to 5,000 people were killed in Beichuan county of the mountainous Sichuan province after the quake struck in the early afternoon. The county is about 100 miles from the provincial capital, Chengdu.
The most powerful earthquake to hit China in 30 years has killed at least 10,000 people in south-western Sichuan province, with thousands more trapped. Chinese state media said that 10,000 people were buried in one town alone near the epicentre of the quake in Wenchuan County. Premier 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," he said. Speaking from the disaster relief headquarters northwest of Sichuan's provincial capital, Chengdu, he said roads to towns at the quake's epicentre had to be cleared.
The most powerful earthquake to hit China in 30 years has killed at least 10,000 people in south-western Sichuan province, with thousands more trapped.
Chinese state media said that 10,000 people were buried in one town alone near the epicentre of the quake in Wenchuan County.
Premier 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," he said.
Speaking from the disaster relief headquarters northwest of Sichuan's provincial capital, Chengdu, he said roads to towns at the quake's epicentre had to be cleared.
VENEZUELA'S President Hugo Chavez said today that he will create a state-owned corporation to oversee steel production. Shortly after he announced the expropriation of steel company Sidor in a televised address, Mr Chavez said the state conglomerate will run the newly seized Sidor. Furthermore, state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA, PdVSA, will invest in Sidor, the president said. "PdVSA must sign in the coming months a deal with Sidor...PdVSA can well invest some resources here, and Sidor can pay that back with (steel) pipes," said Mr Chavez. The president suggested PdVSA will need all the help it can get as it has begun to look offshore for oil. Mr Chavez made no mention of how much this deal would be worth. He didn't give further details of the new steel corporation he plans to create.
