At least 600 people in Beichuan, one of the areas hardest-hit by Monday's 7.8-magnitude earthquake, have been rescued, according to information from relief officials.

Information from the earthquake control and relief headquarters of Mianyang City said that these people were therefore removed from the name lists of those feared dead.

The quake that tore through southwest China's Sichuan Province was the country's worst in more than three decades.

Encircled by hills 500 to 1,000 meters high, Beichuan falls under the jurisdiction of Mianyang City and is the country's only autonomous county for people of the ethnic Qiang group. It is renowned for its picturesque scenery. About 30,000 people lived inthe county seat, which was virtually demolished by the quake.

Officials said about 80 percent of the buildings collapsed in the old town area and nearly 60 percent were leveled to the ground in the new town. The death toll was estimated at up to 5,000, with10,000 injuries.

More than 10,000 medical workers, police and volunteers were sent to carry out rescue operations in the Beichuan County seat, local authorities said.

As of 2 p.m. on Wednesday, 14,866 people were confirmed dead in Monday's earthquake across China, including 14,463 in Sichuan.

Sichuan quake control and relief headquarters on Thursday said more than 60,000 injured people had been rescued and were given timely treatment in quake-hit areas in the province by Thursday morning.

Premier Wen Jiabao also pledged greater relief efforts.

"We must use all our forces and save lives at whatever costs. Life is the most precious thing," Wen told a meeting on Wednesday evening.

(Xinhua News Agency May 15, 2008)