Chinese leader visits quake area

Chinese President Hu Jintao has flown to south-western Sichuan Province, where it is feared up to 50,000 people may have died in Monday's earthquake. So far almost 20,000 deaths have been confirmed in the region and thousands more people remain missing. Chinese leader visits quake area Hu said rescue work had entered its "most crucial phase", Xinhua news agency reported. Search teams are still combing through the rubble of houses and buildings as hopes of finding more survivors fade. "The challenge is still severe, the task is still arduous and the time is pressing," said Hu. "We must make every effort, race against time and overcome all difficulties to achieve the final victory of the relief efforts." He was speaking after arriving in Mianyang, one of the cities worst-hit by the 7.9-magnitude earthquake, where he was to view the relief efforts and meet troops and medical personnel. The president's presence in the region appears to reflect the level of government concern over the scale of the disaster. "Top priority" The first foreign rescuers have now arrived in the devastated region. Thirty-one Japanese experts arrived on Friday morning, state media said, and a second team with sniffer dogs was due there later in the day. Russia, South Korea and Singapore are also sending teams to help in the rescue effort. Troops have now reached all of the affected areas, state media says, and 60,000 people trapped or injured by the earthquake have received help. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who has been in the area since the earthquake struck, said the focus of the effort was still reaching survivors. "Saving lives is still our top priority, as long as hope of survival still exists," he said. But the task remains huge. Seven schools, including two nursery schools, collapsed in the town of Mianzhu alone, burying more than 1,700 students. In Hanwang town, about 700 students were buried when Donqi middle school collapsed. The BBC in Hanwang described seeing rescuers emerge from a building carrying two bodies, and watching parents wait at the school, hoping their children would come out alive. China has announced an investigation into why many schools collapsed. Disease fears More than 200,000 houses have collapsed in Sichuan province, while more than four million have been damaged in some way, Xinhua said. In Mianzhu, one of the worst-hit towns, one woman said the focus should switch to caring for the survivors. "The focus is on saving lives, and they say food and a place to live are small issues as long as you're alive," Fan Xiaohua told Reuters news agency. "In fact, they are very big issues right now," she said. Tens of thousands of Chinese troops and police are in the region to help with relief efforts but damage to roads is making it difficult to get to the worst-hit regions. Some soldiers have parachuted into the remotest areas, and essential supplies have been dropped from planes. But local people say food, medical supplies and tents are desperately needed. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has issued an emergency appeal for medical help, food, water and tents.

Chinese leader visits quake area

Hu said rescue work had entered its "most crucial phase", Xinhua news agency reported.

Search teams are still combing through the rubble of houses and buildings as hopes of finding more survivors fade.

"The challenge is still severe, the task is still arduous and the time is pressing," said Hu.

"We must make every effort, race against time and overcome all difficulties to achieve the final victory of the relief efforts."

He was speaking after arriving in Mianyang, one of the cities worst-hit by the 7.9-magnitude earthquake, where he was to view the relief efforts and meet troops and medical personnel.

The president's presence in the region appears to reflect the level of government concern over the scale of the disaster.

"Top priority"

The first foreign rescuers have now arrived in the devastated region.

Thirty-one Japanese experts arrived on Friday morning, state media said, and a second team with sniffer dogs was due there later in the day.

Russia, South Korea and Singapore are also sending teams to help in the rescue effort.

Troops have now reached all of the affected areas, state media says, and 60,000 people trapped or injured by the earthquake have received help.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who has been in the area since the earthquake struck, said the focus of the effort was still reaching survivors.

"Saving lives is still our top priority, as long as hope of survival still exists," he said.

But the task remains huge.

Seven schools, including two nursery schools, collapsed in the town of Mianzhu alone, burying more than 1,700 students.

In Hanwang town, about 700 students were buried when Donqi middle school collapsed.

The BBC in Hanwang described seeing rescuers emerge from a building carrying two bodies, and watching parents wait at the school, hoping their children would come out alive.

China has announced an investigation into why many schools collapsed.

Disease fears

More than 200,000 houses have collapsed in Sichuan province, while more than four million have been damaged in some way, Xinhua said.

In Mianzhu, one of the worst-hit towns, one woman said the focus should switch to caring for the survivors.

"The focus is on saving lives, and they say food and a place to live are small issues as long as you're alive," Fan Xiaohua told Reuters news agency.

"In fact, they are very big issues right now," she said.

Tens of thousands of Chinese troops and police are in the region to help with relief efforts but damage to roads is making it difficult to get to the worst-hit regions.

Some soldiers have parachuted into the remotest areas, and essential supplies have been dropped from planes.

But local people say food, medical supplies and tents are desperately needed.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has issued an emergency appeal for medical help, food, water and tents.