More aftershocks, including moderate ones, are likely in Wenchuan County, the epicenter of a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in the southwestern Sichuan Province, a government scientist has said.

Deng Changwen, the deputy head of the Sichuan Provincial Seismological Administration, said judging from data obtained so far, these aftershocks would not cause damage to the downtown areas of Chengdu, the provincial capital that lies 159 kilometers southeast of Wenchuan.

Deng ruled out the possibility of any destructive earthquakes in the Sichuan Basin, which is directly east of the epicenter of Monday's quake.

He said that more than 4,400 tremors have been recorded since the 7.8-magnitude quake struck. It was the worst in more than three decades in China and was felt throughout the country.

More than 50,000 people are feared dead in Sichuan alone, the rescue headquarters of the State Council (cabinet) said on Thursday.

The confirmed death toll in Sichuan was 19,509 as of 4 p.m. Thursday, up by 5,046 from Wednesday, according to Li Chengyun, the vice provincial governor of Sichuan.

(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2008)