Aftershock Upsets Communication In China, Survivors Found Of First Quake

Yingxiu, China (AHN) - A strong aftershock resulted in landslides leading to road blocks and disruption of communications in some of the most quake-ravaged parts of central China on Friday.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the latest tremor measured magnitude 5.5 and was centered 6.2 miles below the surface. Though the quake was relatively less intense than the initial one, it still rattled parts of central Sichuan province Friday afternoon, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

A large number of vehicles were buried on a road leading to the epicenter near Wenchuan. It is not known if the aftershock caused any additional casualties.

Meanwhile, rescue workers continued their search for survivors, finding live victims buried in rubble for 96 hours. Rescuers pulled a student from the debris of Beichuan Middle School, 80 hours after the quake collapsed the building, Xinhua reported. Two more people were saved after being buried for 95 hours, the agency added.

The report said rescuers could hear more voices calling for help in the rubble. On Thursday, an 11-year-old girl was pulled from the rubble of another school in the badly hit town of Yingxiu.

Chinese President Hu Jintao, visiting the quake zone on Friday, said relief work had entered "the most crucial phase." Xinhua quoted Hu as saying "We must make every effort, race against time and overcome all difficulties to achieve the final victory of the relief efforts."

The government estimates that more than 50,000 people died in Monday's 7.9-magnitude earthquake, China's worst natural disaster in a generation. The government also launched an investigation into whether poor construction was to blame for nearly 7,000 school buildings being destroyed by the earthquake.