AP Image
Beijing:
The death toll crossed the 1000-mark in China's quake-hit Qinghai province, where rescuers raced against time to save hundreds of people buried under the rubble, three days after the 7.1 magnitude temblor flattened the remote northwestern region.
The death toll had climbed to 1,144 and another 417 remained missing as of this evening, state-run Xinhua news agency said.
Thousands of rescuers fought altitude sickness and chilly weather to rescue as many people as possible ahead of the end of the "golden 72 hours" tomorrow morning.
Premier Wen Jiabao who has put off his foreign tour, personally led rescue teams goading them not to give up efforts to save lives.
"I want to reiterate that peoples' lives comes first as long as the slightest hope exists, we will give 100 per cent and never give up especially the first 72 hours of the earthquake," Wen said.
The relief turned out to be a major challenge for the well-oiled Chinese government machinery as the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu, located adjacent to Tibet.
The region is predominantly inhabited by Tibetans and officials have to press in scores of interpreters to speak to the public who spoke only Tibetan language and not Mandarin.
"The Central government shares your pain, your loss is our loss, your relatives are our relatives, your disaster is our disaster and we mourn together," Wen told people.
President Hu Jintao too has cut short his tour to Brazil where he attended the summit of the Brazil, Russia, India And China (BRIC) countries on Friday and headed home cancelling his rest of the Latin American tour to Venezuela and Chile.
Reports from the quake hit areas meanwhile painted a poignant picture as relatives cried, monks prayed, and rescuers clapped specially when a teenage girl was rescued out alive this afternoon after nearly three days under the flattened ruins of a hotel in quake-stricken west China.
The 13-year-old was immediately carried away to a medical centre in Gyegu town as delighted rescuers congratulated each other.
Thousands of rescuers taking part in the rescue efforts were also affected by the high altitude, thin air, freezing temperatures and electricity shortages are hampering their efforts, Xinhua news-agency reported.
The 7.1-magnitude quake hit the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu in southern Qinghai Province early Wednesday.
The death toll had climbed to 1,144 and another 417 remained missing as of this evening, state-run Xinhua news agency said.
Thousands of rescuers fought altitude sickness and chilly weather to rescue as many people as possible ahead of the end of the "golden 72 hours" tomorrow morning.
Premier Wen Jiabao who has put off his foreign tour, personally led rescue teams goading them not to give up efforts to save lives.
"I want to reiterate that peoples' lives comes first as long as the slightest hope exists, we will give 100 per cent and never give up especially the first 72 hours of the earthquake," Wen said.
The relief turned out to be a major challenge for the well-oiled Chinese government machinery as the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu, located adjacent to Tibet.
The region is predominantly inhabited by Tibetans and officials have to press in scores of interpreters to speak to the public who spoke only Tibetan language and not Mandarin.
"The Central government shares your pain, your loss is our loss, your relatives are our relatives, your disaster is our disaster and we mourn together," Wen told people.
President Hu Jintao too has cut short his tour to Brazil where he attended the summit of the Brazil, Russia, India And China (BRIC) countries on Friday and headed home cancelling his rest of the Latin American tour to Venezuela and Chile.
Reports from the quake hit areas meanwhile painted a poignant picture as relatives cried, monks prayed, and rescuers clapped specially when a teenage girl was rescued out alive this afternoon after nearly three days under the flattened ruins of a hotel in quake-stricken west China.
The 13-year-old was immediately carried away to a medical centre in Gyegu town as delighted rescuers congratulated each other.
Thousands of rescuers taking part in the rescue efforts were also affected by the high altitude, thin air, freezing temperatures and electricity shortages are hampering their efforts, Xinhua news-agency reported.
The 7.1-magnitude quake hit the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu in southern Qinghai Province early Wednesday.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
