Saving lives in the aftermath of the Sichuan earthquake is the top priority for the time being and rescue operations will continue as long as hope exists that people can be saved, disaster relief officials said on Tuesday.

"It is far too early to give up rescue work," Wang Zhenyao, director in charge of disaster relief with the Ministry of Civil Affairs, told a press conference.

"Time is of the essence in our rescue operations. Although more than 24 hours have passed since the earthquake and the death toll has risen to 11,921, there is still hope for survivors," Wang said.

"In our experience, many people trapped in earthquakes can survive for a rather long time. We will never give up rescue operations so long as the slimmest hope of survival exists," he said.

According to Zhang Hongwei, spokesman of the China Seismological Bureau (CSB), rescue teams sent by the CSB, Sichuan Province and Chongqing municipality had rescued 21, 22 and 15 people, respectively, by Tuesday afternoon.

The earthquake, measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, hit Wenchuan County in Sichuan at 2:28 PM Monday. Tremors were also felt in many other areas of the country.

(Xinhua News Agency May 13, 2008)