News / Nature
Death Toll Hits More than 12,000 in China’s Earthquake, Nearly 20,000 Believed to be Still Buried
The devastating 7.9-magnitude earthquake that rocked China on Monday is now believed responsible for at least 12,000 deaths and officials believe an additional 20,000 people could still be buried under the rubble of fallen homes, schools, and buildings.
Rescue workers have reached the epicenter in Wenchuan county, inside the Sichuan province located in the central region of the country. While relief work has continued the progress has been slowed due to heavy rains making some areas affected by the temblor inaccessible.
The death toll is expected to increase dramatically with some estimates predicting more than 35,000 dead. That number won’t be known for some time as relief crews made up of soldiers and police continue to search for victims.
The quake was felt some 900 miles away in Beijing as well as in Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam.
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