Rescuers Find More Remains at Bridge Site

(NEWSER) - The death toll in the Haitian school collapse has risen to 75, the AP reports. The mayor of the Port-au-Prince suburb where it occurred said 17 dead students have been found so far today. Another 80 are being treated for injuries, many of them serious, and hundreds more children could have been in the building. Haiti’s president warned that structures all over the country were at risk of failure because of poor construction. More»

One dead in weekend explosion as rescue efforts continue

(NEWSER) - Rescuers have saved 24 Ukrainian miners trapped underground after a large explosion over the weekend. One miner was found dead, AFP reports. Efforts continued to rescue the remaining 12 workers as flood waters rose. Most of the survivors were found some 3,000 feet underground, their faces covered with soot and suffering from burns and other injuries. More»

China says 20,000 confirmed dead, and at least 25,000 still trapped

(NEWSER) - The death toll from China’s devastating earthquake could ultimately top 50,000, Reuters reports. Some 20,000 have been confirmed dead, but Chinese officials fear for tens of thousands trapped under rubble, as rescuers contend with landslides, destroyed roads, and collapsed bridges. But even among those above ground, the multitudes of newly homeless people are beginning to strain the resources of relief efforts. More»

Death toll expected to rise, may end up in six figures

(NEWSER) - The official death toll for the Chinese earthquake shot past 13,000 today and is expected to jump sharply after the full extent of the devastation is accounted for, Reuters reports. In one town with a prequake population of 12,000, only 2,000 survived; in all, 60,000 are missing in Wenchuan, the quake’s epicenter. More»

Victims eligible for $400K apiece

(NEWSER) - Minnesota will establish two funds totaling $38 million to compensate victims of the Minneapolis bridge collapse that killed 13 people last summer, the Star Tribune reports. One pool allows victims up to $400,000 each; the other provides those "extraordinarily impacted" by the collapse with extra funds for medical bills and other needs. In exchange, victims will waive their right to sue the city or state. More»