China says at least 75,000 dead or missing from quake
Pastor Dale Morgan
China says at least 75,000 dead or missing from quake*
Reuters | Wednesday, 21 May 2008
China raised the number of dead or missing from a devastating earthquake
to be at least 75,000, as rescuers found another survivor eight days
after the huge tremor hit.
Vice governor Li Chengyu of the southwestern province of Sichuan said
the known death toll there alone had now topped 40,500. At least another
1000 have been reported killed in neighbouring provinces.
State news agency Xinhua reported that a further 35,000 were still missing.
Authorities had previously said they expected the final death toll to
exceed 50,000. The number of injured stands at about 245,000.
Ma Yuanjiang was rescued in Wenchuan county, epicentre of the May 12
quake in mountainous Sichuan, after 179 hours buried in the rubble,
state media said.
His rescue came as authorities tried to restore calm in the provincial
capital, Chengdu, after tens of thousands rushed into the streets
overnight alarmed by a television prediction of another powerful earthquake.
But as darkness fell over Chengdu on Tuesday thousands of residents
prepared makeshift shelters to sleep outside, too afraid to stay
overnight in their homes.
That, along with fresh aftershocks and forecast heavy rain, compounded
the difficulties for military, government and private workers trying to
ensure millions of homeless are fed and housed.
Anger was building among bereaved parents in Sichuan over the way many
school buildings had collapsed, burying whole classrooms full of
children. In one town, in a rare public protest, hundreds demanded
punishment for anyone guilty of shoddy construction.
Chengdu residents rushed from their homes before midnight on Monday,
alarmed by the prediction of another earthquake after the 7.9 magnitude
tremor on May 12.
Hundreds of aftershocks have been felt over the past week, bringing down
more buildings and causing landslides. A few hours after the television
report, a 5-magnitude tremor was felt.
But on Tuesday, provincial television screened interviews with a series
of seismological bureau officials to explain the prediction and calm a
jangled populace.
"Just because you can feel aftershocks, it doesn't mean they will hurt
you. Of course, that doesn't mean you should stand in harm's way," said
Han Weiding, researcher with the local seismological bureau.
The quake warning also prompted panic in neighbouring Chongqing
municipality and Guizhou province.
The pandemonium showed how the main quake and its aftershocks have
stretched nerves to breaking point.
"I think the television coverage is overdoing it. They're scaring
people," said a hotel worker surnamed Li, who spent the night in a
public park.
The most lamented victims of the quake have been the thousands of
children who died when school buildings collapsed.
In Juyuan town, hundreds of grieving parents demanded an annual memorial
day for their children, punishment of officials or builders responsible
for shoddy schools, and compensation.
"How come all the houses didn't fall down, but the school did? And how
come that happened in so many places?" demanded Zhao, whose two
daughters were crushed to death.
"We want a memorial day for the children, but we also want criminal
prosecution of those responsible, no matter who they are."
As China's ruling Communist Party seeks to maintain a staunch front of
unity and stability after the quake, the incipient protests by parents
could be troublesome, for many of them blame official graft and laxity,
more than nature, for the deaths.