Chinese President Hu Jintao flew to quake-hit southwestern Sichuan Province Friday morning to console the victims and inspect the rescue and relief work.

Hu will also visit the troops and medical workers who are engaged in around-the-clock relief efforts in the quake areas.

As of 4 PM Thursday, more than 50,000 people were feared dead and the confirmed death toll in Sichuan alone was 19,509.

(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2008)