Fresh relief supplies were rushed to earthquake zones in northern China yesterday as homeless survivors prepared to spend a second night in bitter-cold temperatures.
Injuries yesterday mounted sharply to 11,439, with 1,252 of those seriously hurt, according to the AntiQuake and Disaster Relief Headquarters in Zhangjiakou, 40 kilometres southeast of the epicentre.
The number killed from the weekend 6.2 Richter scale earthquake stood at 50.
Xinhua quoted the headquarters as saying more than 44,000 people were homeless after 130,606 houses collapsed in Zhangbei, Shangyi and neighbouring Wanquan counties. A further 264,000 houses were deemed unsafe.
Direct economic losses are estimated at 2.39 billion yuan (HK$2.23 billion).
About 100 km northeast of Beijing, a convoy of 20 buses and trucks, emblazoned with banners reading 'Helping the Hebei Quake Victims', were seen speeding to the disaster areas with clothing, blankets and medical supplies.
Some villagers said they had spent the first night in their homes, despite structural faults and the fear of aftershocks, when the temperature fell to minus 25 degrees Celsius.
