The 7.1-magnitude earthquake shook the Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Yushu at 7:49 am Wednesday.

The death toll had climbed to 1,144 and another 417 remained missing as of 5 pm Friday, about two and a half days after a devastating earthquake shook a Tibetan area in northwest China's Qinghai Province.

Rescuers say that number is expected to rise as freezing nights, with temperatures around minus 3 C, become increasingly difficult for survivors under the debris to bear. Altitude sickness and low oxygen have already caused tremendous challenges for rescuers, volunteers and reporters alike.

Chances of survival were getting slimmer by the second for people still buried under the rubble here in Gyegu, a mountain town of 100,000 people, even as tens of thousands of rescuers, soldiers, police, firefighters and medical workers from around China joined local residents and monks in the ongoing search for life.

We all bless for our fellow people there.