Rescue effort begins to find China earthquake survivors

CHINA poured rescue workers and equipment into a mountainous Tibetan region today in a bid to find survivors after earthquakes killed more than 600 people and injured thousands.

The series of quakes yesterday flattened buildings across western Yushu county and sent survivors, many bleeding from their wounds, flooding into the streets of Jiegu township.

State television showed street after devastated street of toppled mud and wood homes. Officials said 85 per cent of the buildings had been destroyed.

Survivors spent the night outdoors, where temperatures fell below freezing and aftershocks continued. With limited medical supplies, survivors with broken limbs could do no more than wait for help.

"This feels like a war zone, it's a complete mess," said Ren Yu, general manager of Yushu Hotel in Jiegu, who said he felt at least five aftershocks overnight.

"Some of the people have broken legs or arms but all they can get now is an injection."

Rescue work focused on several collapsed schools, with the state news agency saying at least 56 pupils died. Worst hit was the Yushu Vocational School, where 22 students were said to have died, 20 of them girls.