Of its 9, 000 residents, only 2, 300 were found, the state TV quoted local emergency official He Biao as saying.

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The International Bank for West Africa (BIAO) was on the verge of default in 1988 when it was taken over by BNP.

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He Biao, the director of the Aba Disaster Relief headquarters in northern Sichuan province, said officials are concerned about dams close to the epicenter.

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