Up to 5,000 people were today feared dead in just one county hit by the huge earthquake that rocked central China.
The official state media added that another 10,000 were believed hurt in the 7.8 scale quake.
Around 900 children were trapped after their school collapsed about 60 miles from the epicentre in Sichuan province.
The quake struck in the middle of the afternoon when offices, factories and public buildings were full.
It was felt as far away as Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam.
It also cut power and water supplies in the area. The Xinhua News Agency said five power stations were put out of action and six transformer substations were shut down in Sichuan.
Three more power stations and two substations have been knocked out in Shaanxi province to the north of Sichuan.
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