Xinhua: Quake kills more than 8,500

BEIJING, China (CNN) - The death toll from Monday's earthquake in China's Sichuan Province has risen to 8,533, state-run Xinhua news agency said.

"The number of casualties is expected to rise as further destruction is reported. Authorities are yet to reach Wenchuan County, which sits at the epicenter of the earthquake with a population of about 112,000," Xinhua said.

"In Beichuan County, close to Wenchuan, the number of deaths is estimated at more than 3,000, as 80 percent of the buildings were destroyed by the quakes."

In addition, at least 48 people were killed in northwest Gansu Province, Xinhua said.