As of midday Wednesday, the official death toll had reached 41,353. The State Council says 40,854 of these were in Sichuan province. 274,683 other people were injured and 32,666 are still missing. There have been 162 aftershocks measuring above four on the Richter scale. Twenty six of the aftershocks had a magnitude above five, and four were above magnitude six.

As of midday Wednesday, the official death toll had reached 41,353.(File photo)

PLA officials say army rescuers have saved and evacuated about 400 thousand people from the quake zone, including six thousand five hundred survivors dug out of the rubble. Donations have reached 16 billion yuan. So far, 10 billion has been credited into bank accounts , while one point seven billion yuan has been transferred to quake-hit areas.

(CCTV May 22, 2008)