Telecom disruptions hamper rescue effort

Telecom services disrupted by Monday's quake have yet to be restored to a number of mountainous towns in Mianzhu and Shifang counties, hampering rescue efforts.

China Mobile, the country's largest cellphone operator, said engineers had managed to build alternative base stations and temporary emergency mobile networks in the counties. But it said it was still difficult to reach small towns and villages, as access roads had been blocked.

However, China Daily has observed that several towns, including Yinghua in Shifang, whose road links are intact, have yet to be reconnected to the mobile network.