By TINI TRAN, Associated Press Writer 59 minutes ago
China's earthquake death toll has passed 60,000 and could rise to 80,000 or more, Premier Wen Jiabao said Saturday as he and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited the disaster area.
Wen's estimate was a sharp increase over the 55,740 deaths reported earlier by the government in the May 12 quake.
"The fatalities are over 60,000," Wen said. "It may further climb to a level of 70,000, 80,000 or more."
The announcement came as experts searched for 15 radiation sources buried in the rubble and survivors moved out of possible danger areas downstream from rivers dammed by landslides.
With their waters pooling, the blocked rivers could breach the earthen barriers, a danger that would grow with coming rains or aftershocks.
Relief workers were grappling with finding tents and getting food and medical care for the displaced.
The Environmental Protection Ministry said experts from its National Nuclear Safety Administration were trying to contain 15 unspecified "sources" of radiation.
Some 50 potential radiation sources were buried by the quake, Environment Vice Minister Wu Xiaoqing said Friday in Beijing. While 35 have been secured, 15 remained buried under buildings and houses and, though located, were inaccessible, he said.
Wu said the radiation was not leaking. But the number of unsecured sources was far higher than the two the agency reported earlier this week. China has said all nuclear facilities are safe — an assurance Wu repeated — and foreign experts have said the unsecured sources were likely materials used by hospitals and factories or for research.
The search for radiation sources and the evacuation of flood-threatened communities showed how precarious the situation remained nearly two weeks after the quake.
Even as it battled to bring relief to the devastated areas of Sichuan, the government was shifting focus to long-term reconstruction and away from the search for survivors and bodies among the wreckage.
Ban, the U.N. chief, promised help with reconstruction and said the world body was waiting for China's assessment of what it needed.
"If we work hard we can overcome this," Ban said, with Wen standing at his side. "The whole world stands behind you and supports you."
Sichuan Vice Governor Li Chengyun said the province would aim to rebuild roads and cities within three years.
Beijing ordered China's richest provinces and cities to adopt areas that were hit hard by the quake and to start sending aid right away, especially tents and drinking water.
In the quake-hit city of Pengzhou, signs urged people to pay attention to hygiene to prevent disease outbreaks. Red banners hung across the main street said, "There is no difficulty that the heroic Chinese people cannot defeat."
As many as 9,000 injured will be transported to other provinces, Li said. He said more psychologists were needed to help survivors cope, especially children orphaned by the quake along with students who saw many classmates killed in collapsed schools.
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