PIX: Life will never be the same in quake-hit Sichuan

We present defining Reuters images from the aftermath of a 6.6 magnitude earthquake that hit a remote, mostly rural and mountainous area in Sichuan province, China on Saturday.

Rescuers struggled to reach the remote corner of southwestern China on Sunday as the toll of the dead and missing from the country's worst earthquake in three years climbed to 203 with more than 12,000 injured.

The 6.6 magnitude quake struck in Lushan county, near the city of Ya'an in the southwestern province of Sichuan, close to where a devastating 7.9 temblor hit in May 2008 killing some 70,000.

Most of the deaths were concentrated in Lushan, a short drive up the valley from Ya'an, but rescuers' progress was hampered by the narrowness of the road and landslides, as well as government controls restricting access to avoid traffic jams.

In this photograph, Song Zhengqiong, seen holding her daughter, cries in front of her damaged house after a strong 6.6 magnitude earthquake at Longmen village, Lushan county in Ya'an, Sichuan.

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A man recovers his wedding photo from the wreckage of his house after Saturday's earthquake in Longmen township of Lushan county, Sichuan province.

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An elderly woman sitting on a sofa in front of damaged houses, cries, after Saturday's earthquake, in Taiping town of Lushan county.

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A man smokes a cigarette in front of a damaged house after Saturday's earthquake in Lushan county.

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A rescuer walks in front of a damaged building after Saturday's earthquake in Lingguan town of Baoxing county, Sichuan province

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Residents ride on a motorcycle past a damaged car on a street after Saturday's earthquake in Lingguan town of Baoxing county, Sichuan province.

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A boy holds his mother's leg as he cries in front of their damaged house after an earthquake at Longmen village, Lushan county in Ya'an, Sichuan province.

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Wang Zhenjun, 62, gestures as he speaks to journalists in front of his damaged house after Saturday's earthquake in Lushan county.

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A man cries as he burns offering in front of the body of his relative after Saturday's earthquake, in Qingren township of Lushan county, Sichuan province.

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A girl (C) looks out from a makeshift tent during rainy weather as she sleeps with her family after Saturday's earthquake, in Lingguan town in Baoxing county, Sichuan province.

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A 61-year-old survivor Wang Mingkai walks on a road after a strong 6.6 magnitude earthquake hit a village in Lushan county of Ya'an, Sichuan province.

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Men carry injured people to an ambulance at earthquake-hit Longmen Village, Lushan county, Ya'an, Sichuan province.

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Rescuers nap during a break in earthquake-hit Lingguan town of Baoxing county, Sichuan province, after struggling to reach the remote, rural corner of southwestern China.

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An earthquake survivor confronts a police officer, who was trying to control a protest against what demonstrators said was the lack of rescue operations at Chaoyang village, following Saturday's earthquake, in Lushan county of Ya'an, Sichuan province.

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A survivor reacts as she stands in her damaged house after a strong 6.6 magnitude earthquake hit Lushan county of Ya'an, Sichuan province.

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A mother holds her son as she walks past tents at a village after a strong 6.6 magnitude earthquake hit the remote, mostly rural and mountainous Lushan county, Sichuan province.

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