New Delhi, May 23 : The death toll from earthquake in southwest China on Friday crossed 55,000 with nearly 25,000 people still missing.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has stated that the focus of relief work has been shifted from rescuing lives to rehabilitating the quake victims and local society.
“It will be a harder and long-term task,” he said in Beichuan County, one of the worst-hit by the quake measuring 8 on Richter Scale.
Sichuan Vice Governor Li Chengyun stressed on rescuing survivors, 11 days after the quake rocked the province, where 55,239 have been confirmed dead and 24,949 people were still missing.