BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived at Guangyuan City in southwest China’s Sichuan Province here Thursday morning.

Wen spent three hours by ship to go to Muyu Township, Qingchuan County, one of the worst-hit area of Guangyuan City to oversee rescue work and visit survivors.

source: Xinhua Net

Monday’s quake caused more than 1,400 deaths and 10,000 injuries in Qingchuan as of 4 p.m. Wednesday. More than 460 students were once under ruins of a junior middle school building in Muyu Township and about 150 have been rescued till now.

Wen said to disaster relief personnel, including firemen and medics that “the Party and the country thank and the people need you.”

“You should be unafraid of difficulties and sacrifices, devoting yourself to rescue the people,” he said.

Junior school student Wang Yunxiao, who survived the quake, cried to the premier that their house was crashed, they would soon be out of food, and he could not go to school.

Wen told her that the house would be rebuilt, food would be sent and school would resume too.

Wen said the Party and the country never forgot the remote quake-hit villages. He encouraged local residents to “rise from sorrow, help each other and rebuild home.”

He said that “government is concerned about you and will make the utmost efforts to help you. See, a large number of soldiers are coming. Food, water and tents will also come soon.”

He also visited journalists at scene reporting the disaster relief work.

He discussed with relative officials about intensifying rescue work on his way back to Guangyuan City.