Dan Chung at the scene of the earthquake in China

An elderly woman stands by the rubble of a collapsed building in Niufei village, Pingwu county Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Earthquake survivors, many too elderly to make the journey themselves, are brought down from the mountains and across a collapsed bridge to a refugee camp in Shuangyan village Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Earthquake survivors at a Shuangyan village refugee camp, near Chenjiaba town Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Soldiers dig through the rubble of a collapsed building in Chenjiaba where soldiers and residents used any tools available to search for survivors or the dead after the earthquake Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Survivors queue for water from bowsers at Niufei village, Pingwu county Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Bodies of school children are carried by lorry through Pingwu county Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Earthquake survivors, mothers and children, take refuge at a Shuangyan village refugee camp, near Chenjiaba town Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Shoes on collapsed concrete, the scene of fatalities at a home in Niufei village, Pingwu county Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Earthquake survivors read newspapers as they shelter under a flyover on Mianyiang's ring road Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Earthquake survivor Zheng Yin Hui in Niufei village, Pingwu county Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Earthquake survivors take refuge in temporary shelters at a Shuangyan village refugee camp, near Chenjiaba town Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Rescuers and survivors cross the remains of the bridge at Chenjiaba town Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Shoes lie on the ground at the scene of fatalities at a home in Niufei village, Pingwu county Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Earthquake survivors in Niufei village, Pingwu county Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Rescuers search through rubble at Beichuan middle school Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

A survivor is pulled from the rubble by rescue workers at Beichuan middle school Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Rescue workers search through rubble at Beichuan middle school Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

A woman breaks down in tears at Beichuan middle school Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

An injured woman in the town of Beichuan Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Rescue workers march through the town of Beichuan Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian