Heavy rainfall and severly damaged roads are hampering rescue efforts in China following a devastating earthquake in the western part of the country. The death toll from Monday's quake has risen to 10,000. But state media indicated that number could be much higher as thousands of people remain trapped in the rubble of fallen buildings. The first rescuers have now reached +++LM+REIN+++ the epicentre of the earthquake, which is located near Chengdu. China's Xinhua news agency is reporting that the city has been rocked again by a strong aftershock. +++LM-RAUS++ The tremors caused people to run out on to streets in panic. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has ordered troops to the region to help the rescue effort.