China warned yesterday that the death toll from this week's earthquake could soar to 50,000 as the government issued a rare public appeal for rescue equipment as it struggled to cope with the disaster.
More than 72 hours after the quake rattled central China, rescuers appeared to shift from going through downed buildings for survivors to the grim duty of searching for bodies in Monday's tremor.
The official death toll reached at least 19,500 in Sichuan province alone where Monday's quake was centred, Vice Gov. Li Chengyun told a news conference in the provincial capital of Chengdu.

-Culled from The Association Press.

__________________
I am an eternal excellency, and joy of many generations.