A powerful earthquake has killed at least 8,500 people in China's south-western Sichuan province, up to 5,000 of them in just one county.

Many more have been killed and injured in other parts of the country after the 7.8-magnitude quake struck at 1428 local time (0628 GMT).
At least 50 bodies have been recovered from the rubble of a school where an estimated 900 students were buried.

President Hu Jintao has urged "all-out" efforts to rescue victims.
Search teams were sent to the area but struggled to get through because routes were blocked, while nightfall later hampered the rescue attempts.
Map of the region affected: BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Thousands dead in Chinese quake
Some videos are also available showing the scenes there: BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Thousands dead in Chinese quake

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