The Associated Press

Fri, May 16, 2008 (3:22 a.m.)

The Sichuan government says the official death toll from this week's powerful earthquake in the Chinese province has risen to 21,000 people.

Vice Governor Li Chengyun announced the figure at a news conference Friday in the provincial capital of Chengdu. The number is up about 2,500 from a day earlier.

State TV has already reported that the Earthquake and Disaster Relief Headquarters of the State Council has already said deaths could rise above 50,000. The council is the country's Cabinet.