By Scott McDonald
The Associated Press
BEIJING — Blocked mountain roads were hampering rescue efforts after twin earthquakes struck southwestern China and killed at least 80 people, leaving officials worried Saturday that the death toll could rise further.
More than 100,000 residents were evacuated after Friday’s quakes toppled thousands of houses and sent boulders cascading across roads in a remote mountainous area along the borders of Guizhou and Yunnan provinces.
The damage was preventing rescuers from reaching outlying towns, and communications were disrupted after the midday quakes hit in a region of small farms and mines where some of China’s poorest people live. Weather forecasts Saturday said there was a chance of rain over the next three days, which could hamper rescue work.
Full story: 80 dead in China quakes; rescue efforts hampered