Dujiangyan, China (AP) The desperate search continues for people buried alive in the rubble and devastation following yesterday's earthquake in China.

The official death toll in the magnitude 7.9 quake is now more than 12,000. Thousands more are missing, including more than two dozen British and American tourists who were thought to be panda-watching in the area when the quake hit.

The official news agency reports at least 18,000 people may be buried under debris in just one city near the epicenter of the quake.

The search for survivors has been hindered by heavy rains, which forced a group of paratroopers to call off one rescue mission.

Aftershocks continue to rumble across the stricken region.

Bodies covered with white sheets line many streets.