Sichuan government says confirmed death toll from earthquake rises to 21,000
May 16, 2008BEIJING - The Sichuan government says the official death toll from this week's powerful earthquake in the province has risen to 21,000 people.
Vice-Governor Li Chengyun announced the figure at a news conference today in the provincial capital of Chengdu.
It is up about 2,500 from a day earlier.
A state news agency says that aftershocks have cut off roads and telecommunications in Sichuan province, burying a number of vehicles.
Xinhua News Agency says the aftershocks hit Lixian, not far from the epicentre of Monday's 7.9-magnitude earthquake.
State TV has already reported that the Earthquake and Disaster Relief Headquarters of the State Council has said deaths could rise above 50,000.
