'89 dead' in China earthquakes

The search for China earthquake survivors entered its second day today after a series of quakes struck the country's southwest, killing at least 89 people, state media reported.

More than 200,000 people in Yunnan Province were relocated after Friday's quakes destroyed more than 6,650 houses and damaged 430,000 others, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

In the neighbouring Guizhou Province, more than 11,700 houses were damaged, officials have said.

Rescue workers are trying to reach remote communities and deliver food and water to displaced residents.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has called for "rapid, all-out efforts" to search for survivors after multiple earthquakes killed at least 80 people in the country's southwest.

Premier Wen visited one of the worst-hit areas, the mountainous Yiliang County in Yunnan Province, early Saturday, speaking to victims and some of the 100,000 people who have been evacuated after the quakes.

He highlighted that the first 72 hours are critical for rescue efforts, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Premier Wen also urged rescuer workers to reach every village that had been affected by the end of today.

Chinese weather officials have warned of possible "rain-triggered geological disasters" in the quake-hit southwestern region, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported today.

Forecasters said there is a risk of heavy rain over the next three days, which could lead to further landslides and hamper rescue efforts, especially in mountainous areas.

More than 100,000 people have been evacuated across southwestern China, after multiple earthquakes destroyed thousands of homes and landslides blocked roads across the region, state media reported.

The damage has prevented rescue workers from reaching towns in mountainous areas - the areas worst hit by the quakes.

Some of the roads affected have now been cleared, according to state television.

One of the hardest hit was Yiliang County in Yunnan Province, according to the provincial government's website.

At least 80 people died and more than 820 were injured after a series of earthquakes struck southwestern China yesterday, local officials said today.

The quakes, which measured up to 5.6 magnitude according to the US Geological Survey, hit mostly mountainous areas in the Yunnan and Guizhou provinces.

Officials in Yunnan said 6,650 houses have been destroyed and 430,000 others were damaged, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported.