Ya'an City in central Sichuan province is one of the areas hit hardest by the disaster. The earthquake has caused massive damage to the city.

Nearly 170,000 houses were damaged beyond repair, with more than 3 thousand homes completely destroyed. Over 50,000 people in the city left their homes, and half the city's telecommunication network remains out of service. Many of the expressways passing through the city are blocked, and the local water system has been damaged.

The local government is now speeding supplies of food, water, and medicine to the area, but rescue work is being complicated by rain. Ya'an City now faces a shortage of essential supplies including medicine, tents, drinking water, and food.

(CCTV May 14, 2008)