A massive earthquake has killed nearly 10,000 people in central China.

The earthquake struck in the afternoon when classrooms and office towers were full.

The quake devastated a region of the Sichuan province, and was felt as far away as Pakistan, Vietnam and Thailand.

People scrambled for cover as a magnitude 7.9 earthquake rocked central China Monday.

In Cichuan province, 80 percent of the buildings in one county were destroyed.

A Chinese news agency says 900 students were trapped under the rubble of their school and two collapsed chemical plants leaked more than 80 tons of ammonia.

Chinese president Hu Jin-Tao sent his premier to direct the rescue workers.

“They should fear no sacrifice or fatigue, and to put people first,” said China’s Premier, Wen Jiabao.

State media reports the quake has affected more than half the country and tremors were felt for more than a thousand miles.

The government is still searching for survivors and says the number of casualties is expected to rise.

Survivors are reliving the drama.

“I was in a building and everybody raced outside when we felt it, the building started to shake, there was a huge rumble, and everybody ran out into the streets,” said Melissa Block.

Streets are still saturated with crowds of people looking for shelter, fearing aftershocks that often follow major earthquakes.

“A lot of people went to the stadium for the night, and a lot of people are on the street,” said student, Joe Guo.

President Bush has extended his condolences to the victims of today's earthquake.

And the director of U.S. disaster assistance says the U.S. is ready to help China in any way possible.