Chinese soldiers search through wrecked villages buried by earthquake

Soldiers who hiked over landslide-blocked roads to reach the epicenter of China's devastating earthquake searched through collapsed buildings Wednesday for survivors, with the death toll of more than 12,000 certain to rise as the buried are found.

Tens of thousands of homeless in wrecked towns across hilly stretches of Sichuan province spent a second night outdoors after Monday's 7.9-magnitude quake _ China's deadliest in three decades _ some sleeping under plastic sheeting, others bused to a stadium in the city of Mianyang, on the edge of the disaster area.

Price gouging also was seen in Mianyang. A package of instant noodles normally selling for 2.5 yuan …