Rescuers battle to help victims of Sichuan quake as death toll hits 188
Rescue teams delayed by communications shutdown and long tailbacks on roads into worst-hit areas as death toll rises to 186
Relief teams battled to gain access to isolated areas in quake-hit Sichuan province as the death toll rose to 188 on Monday, with more than 11,000 injured and 21 still missing.
Rescue operations were hampered by a communications shutdown and traffic congestion partly caused by the influx of rescue squads and volunteers to the main scenes of devastation in Lushan and Baoxing counties, under Yaan city.
The State Council banned unauthorised rescue efforts and individual vehicles from going to the quake zone for fear of making the traffic problems worse.
Pictures: Strong quake hits Yaan
The quake - said to be of 7.0 magnitude by mainland seismic authorities but 6.6 by the US Geological Survey - hit the Yaan area on Saturday. It came three weeks ahead of the anniversary of the 2008 quake in the province that killed more than 88,000 people.
Traffic tailbacks of up to 20 kilometres held up rescue teams and other vehicles along the road from Yaan to Lushan county, the quake's epicentre.