Struggle to reach quake trapped

With hospitals collapsed, the injured are forced to lie in the rain

Source: BBC News

Chinese rescuers are battling heavy rain and blocked roads to reach thousands of people trapped or injured by Monday's devastating earthquake.

Late on Tuesday, a few hundred soldiers reached the epicentre in Wenchuan county, where an estimated 60,000 people remain missing.

They found 500 bodies within a few hours - but have still not searched many devastated areas.

The official death toll is more than 12,000, and looks set to rise sharply.

Thirty Chinese troops in the town of Yingxiu, in Wenchuan, rescued 300 injured residents, state news agency Xinhua said.

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But of an estimated population of around 10,000, only 2,000 residents were found alive, a local official said.

"They could hear people under the debris calling for help but no one could, because there were no professional rescue teams," He Biao said.

The military says it will start dropping aid and medical supplies into worst-hit regions as soon as weather conditions improve.

Frustration

While the first relief efforts are only just reaching Wenchuan, almost 20,000 soldiers and armed police have deployed across the other parts of Sichuan province badly hit by the quake, officials said.

Another 30,000 soldiers are en route to the area and face a daunting task.