The earthquake death toll across China rose to 19509 on May 15, 2008, China's official Xinhua News Agency learnt from authoritative sources. The number could rise to over 50,000, says the authorities.

Forty-four counties and districts in Sichuan were severely affected by the quake. About half of the 20 million population in these areas were directly affected by the quake. Since most of the quake-hit areas are mountainous villages, thousands of rescuers and hundreds of tons of materials were held up on the ways, blocked by rocks and mud shaken onto roadside, to the quake's epicenter, making air support a vital need. Neighbouring provinces Gansu, Shaanxi, Chongqing, Henan and Yunnan also reported death and injuries from the quake.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has ordered the armed forces and civil aviation department to deploy 90 more helicopters for rescue missions in quake-hit Sichuan province.

China's air force will deploy 60 more helicopters and the other 30 will be provided by the civil aviation industry, according to the headquarters headed by Wen himself. Since the rescue missions started on Monday, 20 helicopters have been dispatched to quake-hit areas for reconnaissance, food and water airdropping, transporting injured people and delivering rescuers. China's air force, army aviation and civil aviation have made its largest noncombat air operation since Monday, mobilizing more than 150 airplanes in various relief missions. The air force has deployed more than 40 transporters which delivered about 8,600 rescuers and 200 tons of materials with more than 130 flights in 48 hours after quake. The force also parachuted 15 elite airborne troopers to a county close to the epicenter who jumped out of plane at about 4,900 meter above sea level and landed without ground instruction and weather reference on Wednesday afternoon. As of mid-Wednesday, rescuers have reached all the affected counties and began rescue efforts there. More than 16,000 policemen are already involved in the rescue efforts.

After the earthquake hit Sichuan, many countries including the Denmark, and international organizations extended their solicitude to China immediately through various channels, expressing their willingness to support and help the Chinese Government and people in disaster relief. The Chinese Government and people appreciate and welcome the kindness of the international community to offer various kinds of support and assistance to China.

Source: www.chinaview.cn

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