22 Apr 2013

Rescue operation continues after China quake

9:52 pm on 22 April 2013

Chinese authorities are continuing a massive rescue operation in Sichuan after the province was hit by a powerful earthquake.

Rescue workers are using dynamite and heavy equipment to get through roads blocked by landslides to reach remote areas, reports say.

However, reaching these areas has been a struggle, with bad weather and powerful aftershocks contributing to delays, the BBC reports.

State media say at least 188 people are known to have died and 11,500 others have been reported injured since the 6.6 magnitude quake struck at 8.02am (local time) on Saturday.

More than 18,000 soldiers and police have been mobilised in the rescue efforts, state news agency Xinhua reported on Sunday. Twenty-three helicopters from the armed forces were also being sent to help out in the operations.

Some of those who have been made homeless are complaining that they have not yet received food or water, the BBC reports.

Rescue teams had already reached the remote villages in mountainous Baoxing County on foot, but landslides were blocking access to aid trucks and preventing some of the casualties from being brought out.