Two women sift through the ruins of their house at Luoshui, near Shifang, in China's southwest Sichuan province Thursday May 15, 2008. China warned the death toll from this week's earthquake could soar to 50,000, while the government issued a rare public appeal Thursday for rescue equipment as it struggled to cope with the disaster. (AP Photo/Greg Baker)

China quake death toll could rise to 50,000

LUOSHUI TOWN, China - China warned the death toll from this week's earthquake could soar to 50,000, while the government issued a public appeal Thursday for rescue equipment as it struggled to cope with the disaster.

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Sad news for Chinese student

KUALA LUMPUR: Just five minutes before the news conference began, Zhang Yang received a call on his mobile phone.

The 20-year-old student from Sichuan, China, answered and within seconds, his face turned solemn and he started sobbing uncontrollably.

He was among 11 Chinese students studying at colleges here who sought the help of the MCA Public Service and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong yesterday.

He had just received a call from his parents informing him that both his best friends had been killed in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit his home province a few days ago.

“I was chatting with them online just before the earthquake struck on Monday and I was also on the phone with my mum when the line got cut off.”

Another student, Yin Zhong, told reporters he had to call his parents more than 300 times before he finally got through to his mother.

“I was worried sick when I could not get through to her,” he said.

China Student Federation Malaysia secretary-general Wang Bing said all Chinese students here were saddened by news of the disaster and hoped Malaysians would help out.