Relief Workers Find Aftershocks and Widespread Devastation in China

The more than 140,000 relief and medical workers helping earthquake victims in China have found widespread devastation even as strong aftershocks continue to afflict parts of the country, reports The New York Times.

The confirmed death toll was raised to more than 34,000, but the government said the figure could reach 50,000. The earthquake has caused more than 240,000 people to be hospitalized and about five million to be left homeless.

Unprecedented giving in response to the disaster, especially by newly wealthy and urban Chinese, has brought in more money than charities in China collected all of last year. A total of $1.3-billion has been pledged so far, 85 percent of which was raised within China, according to the Xinhua News Agency, reports the Associated Press.

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