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OUT IN THE OPEN: Large crowds of students gathered yesterday at a square in Chongqing municipality, neighbouring Sichuan province, following the earthquake. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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BEIJING - CHINA mobilised more than 50,000 soldiers to help with disaster relief work, as Premier Wen Jiabao visited the worst quake-hit cities to comfort victims and those who have lost loved ones.
Mr Wen, who left for the disaster zone hours after the 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck on Monday afternoon, instructed relief troops to ensure that areas made inaccessible by the quake be unblocked by midnight.
'Not one minute can be wasted,' state media quoted him as saying. 'One minute, one second could mean a child's life.'
Heavy rain and landslides severely hampered rescue efforts in some quake areas, especially Wenchuan county, the epicentre.
But a total of 16,760 soldiers managed to begin work yesterday morning, pulling out victims from collapsed buildings and railway tunnels.
Another 34,000 soldiers were heading for quake-hit regions by plane, train and truck, and on foot, Xinhua said.
The People's Liberation Army will also free up 20 military planes for ferrying soldiers and armed police to the affected areas, Xinhua said.
A spokesman for the China Seismological Bureau told a media briefing in Beijing yesterday that tremors were felt in all of China except for the north-eastern Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces, and the north-western Xinjiang Uighur autonomous region.
In Dujiangyan, which Mr Wen visited, many residents had spent the night in the open and were without food and daily necessities.
'We will try our best to send milk powder to parents and ensure children do not go hungry,' Xinhua quoted Mr Wen as saying after learning that some infants were running short of food and that many people needed drinking water and tents.
'It is raining and fairly cold. You are having a hard time, but please hold on. Things will be better after a while and you will be back home soon,' he told victims taking refuge in temporary shelters on the streets.
'Houses were damaged and we can rebuild them. Those who survived can pull through all difficulties and overcome this major natural disaster,' he added.
Xinhua said Mr Wen later visited a primary school where students were trapped in collapsed buildings.
Rescuers were working to get two pupils out of the ruins when he reached the site.
'Hold on, you will be saved,' the clearly emotional Premier told the pair. He asked rescuers to make every effort to save as many children as possible, Xinhua said.
Mr Wen visited cities worst hit by the quake, including Dujiangyan and Mianzhu.
In Mianzhu, where at least 2,000 people were killed, he urged officials to ensure food was distributed quickly.
Xinhua said he comforted a crying child, saying: 'Don't cry. Food will be sent in a short time. Biscuits and milk powder will be sent in a short time.'
He also told villagers: 'The quake has brought you hardships. I know some of your family and friends have died. We are deeply saddened. Some people are still trapped. We will do our utmost to rescue them.'
In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said that no foreign casualties had been reported so far, although 15 British tourists have not been contactable.
He also allayed fears that the Beijing Olympics in August could be affected.
A spokesman for the Beijing Olympic Organising Committee said China would scale back the torch relay from today, when the torch will be in eastern Jiangxi province.
President Hu Jintao and United States President George W. Bush discussed on the phone bilateral issues as well as the earthquake.
Mr Hu thanked Mr Bush, who expressed concern and sympathy for the victims, state media reported.
vincec@sph.com.sg
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