Over 87,000 feared dead in May 12 earthquake, economic losses hit 845 bln yuan
4/9/2008 17:38
It is feared the death toll in the 8.0-magnitude earthquake centered in
Wenchuan County on May 12 in the southwestern Province of Sichuan will top
87,000, an expert said in Beijing today.
"The death toll for the quake had
topped 69,000 by mid July, with another 18,000 missing," Shi Peijun with the
National Wenchuan Earthquake Expert Committee told a press conference this
morning.
"Given that it has been three months since the deadly earthquake
struck, the hope of survival for those missing is very slim," Shi said.
More
than 87,000 are feared dead combining the two figures together, he
said.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao also said on Tuesday that the death toll for
the deadly quake had topped 80,000 at a press conference held in Yingxiu, one of
the worst-hit township at the epicenter Wenchuan County.
In addition, direct
economic losses for the May 12 earthquake hit 845.1 billion yuan (about US$121
billion).
The southwestern province of Sichuan where the quake was centered
suffered the most, accounting for 91.3 percent of the total direct economic
losses, Shi said.
Its neighbouring provinces Gansu and Shaanxi accounted for
5.8 and 2.9 percent of the losses, respectively.
More than 70 percent of the
losses came from damaged dwelling buildings, school and hospital facilities and
infrastructure such as roads and bridges.
Another press conference would be
held this afternoon to provide more specific figures, according to the
Information Office of the State Council.
Xinhua
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