Earthquake Toll Rises in China

LUOSHUI TOWN, China (AP) — China warned the death toll from this week's 7.9 earthquake could soar to 50,000, while the government issued a rare public appeal Thursday for rescue equipment as it struggled to cope with the disaster — with 10 million directly affected by Monday's temblor. A strong aftershock sparked landslides Friday near the epicenter of this week's powerful earthquake, while some survivors were pulled from rubble after being buried for four days. The U.S. Geological Survey said the latest tremor measured magnitude 5.5, one of the strongest among dozens that have shaken the area.

More than 4 million apartments and homes had been damaged or destroyed in Sichuan province. The government said it would investigate why so many school buildings collapsed in the quake — destroying about 6,900 classrooms, not including the hardest-hit counties — and severely punish anyone responsible for shoddy construction.