Dozens of people trudged up a winding mountain road to Beichuan, carrying backpacks and bags with food and medical supplies, on a quest for missing relatives.
Liu Jingyong, a 43-year-old migrant worker searching for his cousin, traveled two days by bus and now foot just to get near his relative's home.
"I have not had any information from him," Liu said. "This is so hard on me."
Severe Challenge
President Hu Jintao made his first trip to the disaster zone, rallying troops among the massive relief operation of some 130,000 soldiers and police.
"The challenge is still severe, the task is still arduous and the time is pressing," Hu was quoted as saying by Xinhua.
"Quake relief work has entered into the most crucial phase. We must make every effort, race against time and overcome all difficulties to achieve the final victory of the relief efforts."
The government said it had allocated a total of U.S. $772 million for earthquake relief, according to the central bank's Web site, up sharply from U.S. $159 million two days ago.
China also has received U.S. $457 million in donated money and goods for rescue efforts, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, including U.S. $83 million from 19 countries and four international organizations.
Given the widespread destruction, AIR Worldwide—a catastrophe-risk modeling firm—estimated losses to both insured and uninsured property would likely exceed $20 billion.
———
Associated Press writers Tini Tran in Hanwang and Anita Chang in Beijing contributed to this report.
