BBC News with Neil Nunes.

A powerful earthquake in China is feared to have killed thousands of people in the southwestern province of Sichuan. The official news agency Xihua says nearly ten thousand people may have died, with many more buried and injured. In one county, most of the buildings are reported to have collapsed. Michael Bristow sent this report from western China.

"This is the biggest earthquake to hit China in more than 30 years. Thousands are already confirmed dead. Chinese state media are reporting that 900 middle school children were buried when their school collapsed. At least 50 are known to have died. 80% of the buildings in one county alone have collapsed, and up to 5000 people there are feared dead. The earthquake struck just before 2:30 this afternoon. The epicenter was in the mountainous Wenchuan county in Sichuan province."