Nearly 10,000 people die from earthquakes in China (*)

The massive earthquake in China last afternoon caused nearly 10,000 people to die, hundreds of people trapped under collapsed buildings while rescue teams have yet to reach the worst-hit area.

(*) According to the latest figures, as of May 20, nearly 32,000 people were killed.

The 7.8-magnitude seismic, the epicenter of Sichuan province, occurred at the beginning of yesterday afternoon, causing at least 8 collapsed schools. Chemical plants and at least one hospital were destroyed, leaving hundreds of people stranded. The death toll is expected to rise in the worst quake in China in three decades.

About 900 students were buried under a three-story building of a school in Dujiangyan City, Sichuan. Premier Wen Jiabao was heartbroken when 50 of their bodies were pulled out of the rubble.

Another school in Dujiangyan also collapsed, leaving 420 students stranded. The new rescue team brought about 100 children out. "We can't waste a minute," Wen said. "Every minute, every second is worth the life of a student."

A woman tried to struggle from the wreckage of a collapsed house after the earthquake.(Photo: Reuters)

In Chengdu, many people have to sleep on the street or in a car, due to concerns about the next aftershocks. Here, at least 45 people died and 600 were injured.

Beijing quickly dispatched troops and medical groups to rescue survivors and treat injured people. Prime Minister Wen vowed to save efforts while asking people to calm down.

Wenchuan County, 100 km from Sichuan's capital, is the worst affected place. The majority of farmers' homes in the two towns collapsed while officials have not yet received information from the three towns closest to the epicenter. These three towns have about 24,000 inhabitants.

Wenchuan confirmed that 15 people died and the number of casualties increased rapidly. "We desperately need tents, food, drugs and satellite communications equipment," said the Chinese Communist Party chairman in Wenchuan.

More than 7,000 people are believed to have died in Beichuan County, Sichuan Province. Here, 80% of buildings have collapsed.

This calamity this time in Sichuan has been the most devastating earthquake in China since 1976, when an earthquake razed Tangshan city, causing nearly 300,000 deaths.