Earthquake region's death toll still rising

The Sichuan provincial government says the region’s death toll from last week’s earthquake in China has passed the 55,000 mark, with nearly 25,000 others still missing.

However, the province’s vice-governor Li Chengyun said today the main priority was still on trying to save anyone trapped in the rubble, even though no one has been found alive since Wednesday, and on trying to prevent the spread of disease.

Mr Li said the number of confirmed deaths in Sichuan alone was 55,239 – up about 4,000 from the previous number – with 24,949 people missing.

Hundreds of people have also been confirmed dead in several provinces around Sichuan.

Despite Mr Li’s comments, it appeared the search for survivors – and even the dead – was giving way to the first steps toward reconstruction.