Winter deadline for rebuild

Authorities in Gansu, one of the provinces worst hit by last month's earthquake, will spare no effort to rebuild people's homes before the winter, its executive governor Feng Jianshen said yesterday.

The construction of schools with heating systems and the repair of more than 4,000 hospitals and clinics are also priorities, Feng told a press conference held by the State Council Information Office.

"Gansu can be very cold in winter," Feng said, adding the temperature can fall to as low as minus 20 C.