Sichuan quake death toll exceeds 21,000

Relief efforts in quake-hit areas in Sichuan Province are continuing non-stop, around the clock.

The Sichuan Provincial Government has reported that the death toll from Monday's earthquake has risen to over 21,570. And 14-thousand others, remain buried. The latest figures were released on Friday afternoon. The Sichuan Provincial Government also reports that 159-thousand people were injured in Monday's massive earthquake. Meanwhile, there have been about 750 strong aftershocks in Qingchuan, in Sichuan Province. Monday's earthquake caused great damage to residential houses and government offices, and 80 percent of them collapsed.

On Friday, rescuers finished repairs on all the quake-damaged sections of road to Beichuan County. On the same day, 100 tons of rice arrived in Wenchuan from Lixian. This is the first batch of food transported to the epicenter apart from the air dropped ones.