China quake toll tops 12,000

BEIJING, May 13 (UPI) -- Rescue workers in southwestern China Tuesday said they pulled 1,000 people from the rubble caused by a massive 7.9-magnitude earthquake.

Officials said more than 12,000 people died in Monday's temblor and 26,000 were injured. It was unclear how many of the 1,000 pulled from the debris Tuesday were alive.

CNN reported the rescue took place in Wenchuan, the epicenter of the quake, where only 3,000 of the town's 12,000 residents were estimated to have survived.

As many as 25,000 people in Sichuan province are believed trapped in the debris.

The quake struck southwestern China Monday afternoon, collapsing buildings and burying tens of thousands of people. The initial shaking was followed by more than 30 smaller jolts within 24 hours.

Li Chengyun, vice governor of Sichuan province, said 12,000 people had died in that province alone and more than 26,000 were injured, CNN reported. Some 3.5 million homes were destroyed.

About 17,000 Chinese soldiers joined a huge relief effort and 34,000 armed forces were traveling by all modes of transport -- even walking -- to the southwestern province.

Xinhua, quoting a witness, reported the road from Dujiangyan, northwest of the provincial capital Chengdu, to Wenchuan was blocked by rocks and mud slides, hampering relief efforts.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao ordered troops to reach the epicenter even if that required walking, Xinhua reported.

China Daily said the quake devastated several small cities and towns set against the steep and forested hills northwest of Chengdu.

The disaster knocked out telephone networks in Chengdu, leaving the provincial capital's 10 million people without communications.