The toll of the powerful earthquake that struck southwest China earlier this week increased further on Thursday, September 8, to at least 82 dead.

A 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck rural Luding Township in mountainous Sichuan Province on Monday, according to the United States Institute of Geological Survey (USGS).

According to state television CCTV on Thursday, 46 people died in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, where the epicenter is located, and 36 in the neighboring township of Shimian.

A balance sheet which could increase, since more than 270 inhabitants were also injured and 35 are missing, according to the same source.

Dangerous conditions for rescuers

The weather services are forecasting moderate rain in the area on Thursday and Friday, with some localized showers.

But "these precipitations are likely to lead to landslides and mudslides", they warned.

More than 10,000 rescuers - military, paramilitary and firefighters - take part in rescue operations as well as in the prevention of possible mudslides.

To evacuate the victims, the rescuers sometimes had to hoist them with ropes and stretchers to cross the rivers of this mountainous area.

In torrents, "underwater stones that you can't see are the biggest threat," a rescue team member named Tan Ke told CCTV.

"We had water up to our knees and thighs," he added.

Some 22,000 evacuations

More than 22,000 people have so far been evacuated and sheltered in 124 temporary accommodations, according to the People's Daily.

In addition, the approximately 1,800 schools in the area reopened normally on Wednesday. 

By the time of the earthquake on Monday, more than 21,000 students and staff in Shimian Township had to be evacuated, according to the leading Chinese Communist Party newspaper.

Hundreds of kilometers of electrical and optical cables were damaged by the earthquake.

Communications in the affected areas were, however, "virtually restored" on Thursday, according to the China Youth Daily.

With AFP 

The summary of the

France 24 week invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you!

Download the France 24 app