(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-05-16 09:40

CHENGDU  -- More than 50,000 people were feared dead in the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that jolted southwest China's Sichuan Province on Monday, the rescue headquarters of the State Council said.

The confirmed death toll in Sichuan alone was 19,509 by 4 p.m. Thursday, Sichuan Vice Governor Li Chengyun said here at a press conference.