China Earthquake Death Toll To Hit 5,000

From the UK Telegraph
The powerful earthquake that rocked much of China today killed 3,000 to 5,000 people in one county alone, according to state media.

Prime Minister Wen Jiabao described the quake, which measured 7.8 on the Richter scale, as a "major disaster" and appealed for calm.

The estimated death toll covers just one county - Beichuan - in the south-western province of Sichuan that was worst hit by the quake. Ten thousand people are feared injured in the county.
Fatalities have also been reported in neighbouring provinces and the death toll is expected to jump as contact is made with regions cut off by the disaster.