The deadly May 12 earthquake, measured at magnitude 8.0 on the Richter Scale, killed 69,227 people (official figure as of Sept. 19) and left 17,923 and 374,634 people missing and injured respectively. It is the deadliest earthquake to hit China since the 1976 Tangshan earthquake, which killed at least 240,000 people.
Special Report: Wenchuan Earthquake

 

President Hu Jintao arrived at the quake-hit Beichuan County on May 16 to console quake-affected people and direct disaster relief operation. [Xinhua]