The death toll in northwest China's Gansu Province from Monday's earthquake has risen to 213 from the previous 189, the Gansu provincial government said on Tuesday afternoon.

Rescue and disaster relief work could be hampered by rains which were forecast by the Gansu Meteorological Bureau for the coming two days.

Showers were predicted to hit Wenxian County in Longnan City, which was isolated from the rest of Gansu after all roads were cut off, for the whole Tuesday. Wenxian recorded 51 deaths so far.

Longnan City, about 240 km northeast of the epicenter Wenchuan County of Sichuan Province, with 183 deaths, was the worst hit area in Gansu.

The earthquake has so far toppled 4,200 houses and 510 cave dwellings, an endemic residence in northwest China, and damaged 6,700 houses in Gansu.

The Gansu provincial government has sent more than 4,000 tents to affected areas.

(Xinhua News Agency May 13, 2008)