The latest news at 9pm China time has the State News Agency advising that anything up to 3,500 people have now lost their lives in the earthquake in Chengdu. 

Also, six schools have collapsed and over 900 students are apparently buried in the rubble of the quake, which measured 7.8 on the Richter scale. 

Premier Wen is calling it a disaster and asking for calm. 

Our hearts go out to the families of those who lost their lives.