China struggles to reopen roads in quake area

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-05-29 08:06

Rescue workers carry relief supplies along a destroyed road at the earthquake-hit Yingxiu town of Wenchuan county, Sichuan province May 18, 2008. China struggled to keep roads open to provide a lifeline for quake survivors, while the government said Wednesday that rebuilding after the disaster would be "arduous." [Agencies]

Premier Wen Jiabao told a meeting of the State Council, China's Cabinet, that handling the danger from the swelling lakes was the "most pressing task" in the disaster recovery effort.

The government has allocated 200 million yuan ($28.6 million) to deal with the swelling lakes, Xinhua said. Of 34 lakes created by the earthquake in the mountainous province, 28 were at risk of bursting, according to the agency.

The death toll in the major earthquake increased by close to 1,000 to 68,109 as of 12 pm Wednesday, the Information Office of the State Council said. A total of 364,552 people were injured and 19,851 others were missing.

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