Sun.Star Breaking News

YINGXIU, China — China’s earthquake death toll has passed 60,000 and could rise to 80,000 or more, Premier Wen Jiabao said Saturday as he and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited the disaster area.

Wen’s estimate was a sharp increase over the 55,740 deaths reported earlier by the government from the May 12 quake.

“The fatalities are over 60,000,” Wen told reporters in this badly damaged town near the epicenter of the disaster. “It may further climb to a level of 70,000, 80,000 or more.”

The announcement came as experts searched for 15 radiation sources buried in the rubble and survivors moved out of possible danger areas downstream from rivers dammed by landslides.

With their waters pooling, the blocked rivers could breach the earthen barriers, a danger that would grow with coming rains or aftershocks.

Relief workers were grappling with getting tents, food and medical care to the displaced. Wen said the government needs 900,000 tents and it is urging Chinese manufacturers to make 30,000 a day.

The Environmental Protection Ministry said experts from its National Nuclear Safety Administration were trying to contain 15 unspecified “sources” of radiation.

Some 50 potential radiation sources were buried by the quake, Environment Vice Minister Wu Xiaoqing said Friday in Beijing. While 35 have been secured, 15 remained buried under buildings and houses and, though located, were inaccessible, he said.

Wu said the radiation was not leaking. But the number of unsecured sources was far higher than the two the agency reported earlier this week. China has said all nuclear facilities are safe - an assurance Wu repeated - and foreign experts have said the unsecured radiation material was likely used by hospitals and factories, or for research.

The search for radiation material and the evacuation of flood-threatened communities showed how precarious the situation remained nearly two weeks after the quake.

Even as it battled to bring relief to the devastated areas, the government was shifting focus to long-term reconstruction and away from the search for survivors and bodies among the wreckage.

“Previously our main priority was the search and rescue of affected people,” Wen said. “Our priority now is to resettle the affected people, and to make plans for the post-quake reconstruction.”

The quake destroyed more than 15 million homes, according to Wen. He said the government has begun an urgent effort to construct temporary housing, complete with schools and trash collection.

Some 10,000 medical workers have been dispatched to prevent outbreaks of disease, Wen said.

“The second major challenge facing us is epidemic prevention and control,” the premier said.

“I can tell you there has been no outbreak of epidemics,” Wen said. He said that if there is an outbreak, “I can assure you we will handle it in a very transparent manner.”

Ban, the UN chief, promised help with reconstruction and said the world body was waiting for China’s assessment of what it needed.

“If we work hard, we can overcome this,” Ban said, with Wen standing at his side. “The whole world stands behind you and supports you.”

A Chinese military officer took Ban on a tour of Yingxiu, which is about 40 miles (60 kilometers) southeast of the quake’s epicenter.

Some 4,800 of the town’s 18,000 people were killed and another 4,000 are still missing, the officer told Ban. Most of the buildings in the town collapsed and those still standing were badly damaged. Reporters could see government workers in hooded white protective suits spraying disinfectant on the rubble.

Sichuan Vice Governor Li Chengyun said the province would aim to rebuild roads and cities within three years.

Beijing ordered China’s richest provinces and cities to adopt areas that were hit hard by the quake and to start sending aid right away, especially tents and drinking water.

In the quake-hit city of Pengzhou, signs urged people to pay attention to hygiene to prevent disease outbreaks. Red banners hung across the main street said, “There is no difficulty that the heroic Chinese people cannot defeat.”

As many as 9,000 injured will be transported to other provinces, Li said. He said more psychologists were needed to help survivors cope, especially children orphaned by the quake along with students who saw many classmates killed in collapsed schools. (AP)

World