The death toll from Monday's earthquake in Sichuan Province has exceeded 22,069, while 14,000 others remained buried. The figures were released by the State Council a short time ago.
A nurse encourages a stranded child at the earthquake-hit Beichuan County, about 160 kilometers northeast of the epicenter of Wenchuan County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 13, 2008. Beichuan County is badly damaged in Monday's quake, with great numbers of buildings collapsed and landslides around the county.(Xinhua/Li Gang)
They also say that 169,000 people were injured in Monday's massive earthquake, and 4.8 million people were relocated. But the State Council said on Thursday that more than 50,000 people are feared dead in Sichuan alone.
Meanwhile, a fresh 5.9 magnitude aftershock hit Lixian, Sichuan Province on Friday afternoon, cutting off roads and telecommunications. A number of vehicles were also buried in landslides triggered by the aftershock. The casualties are not yet known.
The Sichuan provincial seismological bureau is continuing to record aftershocks from Monday's powerful earth tremor. So far more than 4400 after shocks had been recorded.
(CCTV May 17, 2008)