May 16, 2008
The top headline of today’s The Beijing News announces a revised death toll estimate from the rescue headquarters of the State Council: possibly up to 50,000 dead. Meanwhile, some sources says that 19,509 people had been confirmed dead in Sichuan Province by 4 PM yesterday. This is the fourth earthquake supplement issue of The Beijing News and it includes new details and shocking photos from the front lines.
The front page picture shows PLA soldiers and paramedics transporting survivors. The caption reads “Racing Against Death.”
Other front page headlines:
• CNN President Jim Walton has apologized for commentator Jack Cafferty’s insulting remarks on China.
• According to a spokesman of the Beijing Seismological Bureau, there will be no destructive earthquakes in Beijing in the near future.
• A farm truck loaded with 42 people fell into a river while attempting to cross a bridge in Guiding, Guizhou Province. 29 people were killed and 13 injured in the accident.
In other papers, the Mirror answers a pressing question regarding Beijing’s legions of Sichuanese establishments: will they be affected by the earthquake? The answer: restaurants are now sourcing raw materials from Chongqing instead of Chengdu, so you don’t have to worry that your supply of kung-pao chicken will be interrupted (link).