Wang Zhenyao, director of the disaster relief bureau of the Ministry of Civil Affairs said at a press conference in Beijing Tuesday afternoon that the difficult transportation conditions, along with the huge number of the population affected by the earthquake in Sichuan are two major challenges current disaster relief workers are facing.

Most of the quake-hit areas are in mountainous regions, Wang said.

The road from Dujiangyan, a city northwest of the provincial capital of Chengdu, to Wenchuan, the epicenter, was blocked by fallen rocks and mud slides, holding up rescue, medical and other disaster relief teams.

Premier Wen Jiabao was also blocked on the way to Wenchuan after he arrived in stricken Sichuan Province on Monday.

The earthquake measured 7.8 on the Richter scale. It attacked southwest China's Sichuan on May 12 and is considered the most devastating quake to have jolted west China since 1949. The need for relief materials is considerable, Wang said.

According to the official, the largest number of tents set during previous disasters was between 50,000-60,000. Now, 50,000 tents are needed in Mianyang alone, one of the hardest-hit cities in Sichuan. To make matters worse, handing out relief materials to victims is currently very difficult due to impaired transportation routes and bad weather.

Commenting upon the weather after the quake, Wang said, "As everybody knows, rain is the most unwanted after earthquakes, and the heavy rains ravaging the disaster area now are making the relief commission work even more difficult."

The earthquake's death toll in Sichuan alone tops 12,000 by 4:00 PM on Tuesday, according to a press conference held by the Sichuan provincial government.

(China.org.cn May 13, 2008)