By Prensa Latina,
Beijing : Chinese President Hu Jintao on Friday visited zones pounded by the recent quake, reiterating that rescuing lives is the top priority, while the death toll has reached 22,000 according to latest reports.
The president left for the destroyed region of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, early today, and noted rescue operations will go on.
“The challenge is huge, the task arduous, and time is running out,” Hu Jintao affirmed referring to the thousands of people who are still among the rubble.
In the meantime, a total of 22,000 fatal victims have been confirmed, but authorities fear they could reach 50,000 only in this zone.
On the other hand, about 216,000 constructions, of which 6,898 were schools, were said to be destroyed by the Sichuan quake.
The central government has ordered local authorities to investigate the reason for so many collapses, affirmed Han Jin, head of Development and Planning at the Education Ministry.