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China

Facts and figures about China quake and relief

BEIJING, May 15, 2008 (Xinhua via COMTEX News Network) -- A strong quake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale jolted Wenchuan County in southwest China's Sichuan Province Monday afternoon.

Tremors were felt across China except the northeastern Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces and the northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous region.

The quake has caused deaths and injuries, destroyed towns and roads, and cut off electricity, communication, transportation and water supply. Chinese government has taken series of measures for disaster relief work.

Following are facts and figures of the quake and relief work as of Thursday.

- More than 50,000 people are feared dead in Sichuan Province, the rescue headquarters of the State Council said Thursday and the confirmed death toll in the province was 19,509 by 4 p.m. Thursday, Li Chengyun, vice governor of Sichuan told a press conference.

Another 102,103 people were injured and 12,300 buried in the rubble. Rescuers have pulled 13,400 people alive out of the debris.

- Public donations in both cash and goods to the quake-hit areas had risen to 1.344 billion yuan (192 million U.S. dollars) as of 3 p.m. on Thursday, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

- More than 130,000 soldiers, armed police and paramilitary personnel have been engaged in disaster relief work, military sources said.

Chinese army and armed police personnel Thursday have reached all 58 counties and townships severely damaged in Monday's quake.