A local official from the Aba prefecture of China's Southwestern Sichuan province says medical assistance as well as other necessities such as water and food are among the most badly-needed aid in Wenchuan, the epicenter of the Monday's deadly earthquake.
He Biao, chief of the emergency handling office of the Aba prefecture, says a special inspection team led by local officials has arrived in the Town of Yingxiu, a subordinate town of Wenchuan county. He says the situation there doesn't look too good.
"The Town of Yingxiu has a population of about 6,000. We now have about 2,300 survivors there. And nearly half of them are critically-injured. The town is in urgent need of medical supplies. Although rescue attempts have been made in the town, they are still suffering from a lack of manpower. "
He Biao says major roads leading to the Wenchuan area have been completely destroyed and electricity has been all out since the earthquake took place.
He adds the situation in the urban areas of Wenchuan is relatively better than its rural areas. People in Wenchuan's urban districts have been evacuated to avoid further casualties.