China quake death toll rises to 22,069

    BEIJING, May 16 (Xinhua) — The death toll from the 7.8-magnitude earthquake in southwest China’s Sichuan Province rose to 22,069 nationwide as of 2 p.m. Friday, while 168,669 people were injured, according to the emergency response office of the State Council. 

    Altogether 21,577 people were killed in Sichuan, close to 2,000up from Thursday, and 159,006 injured.

    In its neighbouring regions, 364 were killed in Gansu, 109 in Shaanxi, 15 in Chongqing, 2 in Henan, one in Yunnan, and one in Hubei.

    Nearly 100 hours after Monday’s powerful quake, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao on Friday again urged continued efforts in quake rescue and relief work and giving top priority to the saving of people’s lives.

    A meeting held between the two Chinese top leaders said the previous relief work had been progressing orderly and effectively, which paved a smooth way for the following work.

    In face of the pressing time, uttermost efforts must be made if only there exists the slimmest hope of survivors, the meeting said.