Rescuers struggled this morning to reach victims of the devastating earthquake that killed thousands of people in central China and trapped thousands more in the rubble of collapsed schools, factories, hospitals and homes.
Road, rail, air and phone links to the epicentre of the 7.8 magnitude shock were cut, hampering relief efforts and the flow of information on the scale of the catastrophe. Some Chinese troops were marching up to 100 miles through the night to reach affected areas.
When we have major earthquakes in major metropolitan areas, our death tolls are rarely over 100. I'd say China is still closer to Iran's level of development.
Update The confirmed death toll is now nearly 4,000 with tens of thousands still buried. How terrifying. Hopefully they will show up the Burmese junta and allow aid workers into the country. I have to say I'm not very hopeful because as late as last night the government would only admit a few hundred casualties.
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