China quake toll soars as full horror emerges

The full horror of the devastating China earthquake began to emerge as rescuers discovered whole towns all but wiped off the map, pushing the death toll well above 20,000.

Military and police teams punched into the heart of the disaster zone, with 100 troops parachuting into a county that was previously cut off while planes and helicopters air-dropped emergency supplies.
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China welcomed the offers but said conditions were "not yet ripe" to allow in foreign rescue teams, citing damage to transport links.

A Japanese foreign ministry official in charge of emergency aid said Japan offered rescue teams with sniffer dogs, but China had made no request.

US President George W. Bush and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao discussed the disaster by telephone, with Washington offering half a million dollars in initial disaster aid.

AFP 14 May 2008


Although not local news, but still a tragedy that needs to be mentioned.
The disturbing part is the the U.S. of A was prepared to give 1/2 million, whereas it gives $16 million per day elsewhere.