Heavy rains expected to hamper China quake rescue

CHENGDU (Reuters) - Heavy rain over parts of mountainoussouthwest China on Wednesday is likely to interrupt reliefefforts and threaten dams in the quake-stricken area wheretents have been named the most-wanted item.

Thousands of aftershocks and a forecast of rain compoundedthe difficulties for military, government and private workerstrying to deliver food and water and to ensure millions ofhomeless are housed.

Tents and awnings have been named as the most-wantedmaterials for more than 110,000 military and civilian rescuers.Officials said China needed up to 3 million tents to house anestimate 5 million people left homeless by the 7.9 magnitudequake.

"We're really short of tents. So we hope that otherprovinces that want to help us and other countries can donatethem," vice provincial governor Li Chengyun told reporters onTuesday.

The disaster-hit areas, mainly in Sichuan, had received280,000 tents and factories were working around the clock todeliver another 700,000, Jiang said.

China raised the number of dead or missing from theearthquake to more than 70,000 on Tuesday, as rescuers foundmore survivors eight days after the huge tremor hit.

Premier Wen Jiabao urged the Water Resources Ministry tosend experts to dams and reservoirs in quake-hit areas for24-hour patrols with heavy rain forecast for the next 48 hours.

China has also ordered that all donations be made throughthe Red Cross Society of China in an apparent bid to avoidduplication and bogus charity appeals.