Condolences to China

More than 50,000 people may have died in the earthquake that devastated parts of China on Monday, state media say.

• An earth quake recently hit China with a shock measuring to a 7.9 on the Rickter scale.

• Chinese authorities said 60,000 quake victims had been rescued and that all affected areas had now been reached.

• The country is sending 30,000 extra troops to Sichuan to help the 50,000 already involved in rescue efforts.

• Some soldiers parachuted into the remotest areas, and essential supplies have been dropped from aircraft.