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A powerful aftershock from Monday's earthquake in the southwest Chinese province of Sichuan hit the regional capital Chengdu on Tuesday, official news agency Xinhua reported.
The aftershock occurred around 24 hours after yesterday's 7.8-magnitude quake that claimed the lives of at least 10,000 people, RIA Novosti reports.
Monday's quake, which struck at 2.28 p.m. (06:28 GMT), was the worst to hit the country in more than three decades, and affected eight provinces, devastating buildings and infrastructure, leaving thousands of people buried alive under rubble.
Some 60,000 people are said to be unaccounted for near the epicenter of the quake, which was located some 60 miles (96 km) northwest of Chengdu.
An estimated 17,000 Chinese soldiers and 34,000 military are involved in the ongoing disaster relief operation.
The Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations said Russia was ready to send a rescue team and a mobile hospital to China to assist in the relief operation if a request was made by the Chinese authorities.
"An Il-76 cargo aircraft carrying an emergencies ministry rescue team, a mobile hospital and humanitarian assistance is ready for take-off," a spokesman for the ministry said.
Qin Gang, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said Beijing was grateful to all those countries, including Russia, that had offered assistance, adding that China was ready to begin discussions on the issue.
// 13.05.2008 16:24
News URL: http://news.mediaport.info/eng/world/2008/4071.shtml
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