Nearly 10,000 people are dead and thousands more injured after a massive earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale rocked southwest China's Sichuan Province on Monday. Over 500 aftershocks have been recorded. Transport, communication networks, and water and power supplies in most parts of the province have been disrupted. Relief troops are against time approaching Wenchuan County on foot, the epicenter of the quake, to search for survivors. CRI's Zheng Chenguang reports.

Reporter:

The epicenter was in the southeastern part of the Tibetan-Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Aba, some 140 kilometers from the provincial capital of Chengdu.

The State Seismological Bureau says some 14 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities across the nation felt the tremor.

Its spokesman is Zhang Hongwei.

"The State Seismological Bureau started its emergency response immediately. A rescue team with180 members has been set up and is on its way to Sichuan."

Liu Yongfa, head of a rescue team dispatched by the Civil Affairs Ministry, says providing survivors with sufficient living necessities will be the priority.

"When we arrive in the quake zone, we will first see how the quake has actually damaged the area. We will then conduct our rescue mission according to the actual needs at the quake area. We will make our utmost efforts to satisfy the needs of the people affected by the disaster."

Following the devastation, 5,000 troops and armed police have been dispatched to help with disaster relief work.

So far, local airports, railways and highway remain closed. But telecom services have partly resumed.

Zheng Chenguang, CRI news.