50,000 soldiers mobilized

As of last night, nearly 20,000 soldiers and armed policemen had arrived in Sichuan province, with 30,000 more troops advancing toward the quake-hit regions by planes, trains and trucks, and on foot, the Ministry of Defense said.

A large number of search and rescue workers are urgently needed in quake-hit areas, an official with the Ministry of Civil Affairs said yesterday.

Wang Zhenyao, director of the disaster relief department of the ministry, told a press conference yesterday that people trapped in collapsed buildings could survive for up to a week.

Wang, while expressing appreciation for all domestic and foreign donations, said conditions were "not yet ripe" to allow foreign rescue teams into the country.

"At this point, transportation in affected areas is still blocked and it is impossible even for our own rescue teams to reach the disaster-hit areas," he said.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman yesterday also welcomed the international community's aid to China's relief efforts.

Qin Gang told a news briefing that no casualties of foreigners in quake-affected area had been reported.

Train on fire

A 40-car freight train carrying mostly gasoline derailed and caught fire in neighboring Gansu during the quake and was still burning yesterday evening, a railway official said. One injury was reported.

The train, including 13 tank cars filled with gasoline, derailed and burst into flames on Monday in Gansu province when the quake cut a major rail line, Wang Yongping, spokesman for the Ministry of Railways said.

The earthquake left trains and passengers stranded on major rail lines leading to Chengdu, Xinhua said. At least 149 cargo trains and 31 passenger trains were affected and passengers were being moved to safety yesterday.

Water warning

Water resources authorities issued an emergency warning after water projects suffered severe damage in the quake.

According to E Jingping, vice-minister of water resources, the quake has resulted in the damage of "a considerable number of water projects".

"Given that water reservoirs are prone to risks, dam collapses might lead to mass casualties if inspections and rescue work are not conducted in a timely manner," E told Xinhua.

Torch relay

Organizers of the Beijing Olympic Games said yesterday that a minute's silence will be observed during future stops of the torch relay to mourn the victims of the quake.

The relay is scheduled to head to Jiangxi province today as it continues its three-month journey through the country.

(China Daily, Xinhua and agencies, May 14, 2008)