Special report: Strong Earthquake Jolts SW China

    PENGZHOU, Sichuan, May 17 (Xinhua) -- A total of 870 people are dead and 3,097 injured Pengzhou City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, since Monday's earthquake, the city authorities said Saturday.

    City officials said 100,372 houses collapsed and 478,481 people were affected by the 7.8-magnitude earthquake centered on Wenchuan County.

    Several thousands villagers have not been contacted and their situation remains unknown.

    As of midday Saturday, four reservoirs were still regarded as at risk and 55 bridges were destroyed in the city, the government said.

    Solders are searching remote mountain villages in Pengzhou, which were cut off by massive landslides.

    Pengzhou, with a population of 780,000, is about 25 km from the provincial capital Chengdu, and some of its towns border Wenchuan.