China quake toll soars as full horror begins to emerge (China Quake Info Thread 2)

AFP ^ | 5/14/08 | AFP

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China quake toll soars as full horror begins to emerge

14/05/2008

DUJIANGYAN (AFP) - The full horror of the devastating China earthquake began to emerge Wednesday as rescuers discovered whole towns all but wiped off the map, pushing the death toll well above 20,000.

Military and police teams punched into the heart of the disaster zone, with 100 troops parachuting into a county that was previously cut off while planes and helicopters air-dropped emergency supplies.

But the message that came back from this mountainous corner of southwestern Sichuan province was that town after town was flattened by the 7.9-magnitude quake that struck two days ago.

The death toll has soared well above 20,000, but that toll is rising by the hour as more information comes in from stricken communities.

"The losses have been severe," Wang Yi, who heads an armed police unit sent into the epicentre zone, was quoted as saying by Sichuan Online news site.

"Some towns basically have no houses left. They have all been razed to the ground."

A least 7,700 people died in the small town of Yingxiu alone, state media cited a local government official as saying, with only 2,300 surviving.

Across Sichuan, countless thousands more people are missing or buried under the rubble of shattered homes, schools and factories.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said 100,000 military personnel and police had been mobilised, indicating the epic scale of the country's worst earthquake in a generation.

The air drop started with planes and helicopters flying dozens of sorties, dropping tonnes of food and relief aid into the worst-hit zone, most of it cut off from the outside world by landslides and road closures.

The destruction around the epicentre in remote Wenchuan county is massive, with whole mountainsides sheared off, highways ripped apart and building after building levelled.

Rescue teams have been seen pulling bodies and badly injured survivors out of the ruins.

As well as Yingxiu, CCTV television said air drops were also made in nearby Mianyang -- where the death toll jumped to nearly 5,500 -- as well as Mianzhu and Pengzhou.

Helicopters also flew to Wenchuan with food, drinks, tents, communications equipment and other supplies.

The rescue effort has been badly disrupted since Monday by heavy rain, and the Meteorological Authority forecasting more later in the week, raising the risk of fresh landslides.

Amid the setbacks, the nation focused on the precious minutes going by for those who were buried under rubble but may have survived.

Cries for help were heard from a flattened school in Yingxiu, where people were forced to try and dig out survivors with their hands, state media said.

"The situation in Yingxiu is even worse than expected," one local official said.

In towns and villages across a swathe of Sichuan, heart-rending scenes were played out as grief-stricken families searched for missing loved ones.

In the city of Mianzhu, where at least 3,000 died, rescuers picked through twisted metal and concrete trying to find people whose voices could be heard under the rubble.

"My younger brother is in there," 42-year-old Li -- his eyes bloodshot from sleep deprivation -- said next to a heap that was once a bank.

The local disaster relief headquarters said rescuers had been able to pull 500 people alive out of the debris of collapsed buildings, but 20,000 in three outer villages were still out of reach.

Wednesday's leg of the Olympic torch relay in eastern Jianxi province began with a minute's silence before the runners set off.

Organisers of the Beijing Olympics said they would scale down the relay as the torch makes it way to the capital for the summer Games, a further knock to its troubled round-the-world journey after earlier protests over Tibet.

World powers including the United States, European Union and United Nations as well as the International Olympic Committee have rallied round with offers of help.

China welcomed the offers but said conditions were "not yet ripe" to allow in foreign rescue teams, citing damage to transport links.

A Japanese foreign ministry official in charge of emergency aid said Japan offered rescue teams with sniffer dogs, but China had made no request.

US President George W. Bush and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao discussed the disaster by telephone, with Washington offering half a million dollars in initial disaster aid.

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I have also notice that many of the new Quake articles come out in the late afternoon around 4pm and later in China. Which is about 3am central time here.

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Correction:

China is 13 hours ahead of me... It is 10:07pm here while it is 11:07am there.

[Sue Perkick]

It sure looks that way. What a heartbreaking tragedy. Prayers for these people.

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Schools in Sichuan´s capital city resume classes after earthquake
Source: Xinhua
05-15-2008 09:44

CHENGDU, May 14 (Xinhua) — Some primary and middle schools in Chengdu, capital of quake-hit Sichuan Province in southwest China, resumed classes on Wednesday.

An official with the Chengdu city government said schools were allowed to resume classes after making sure that their buildings were safe.

The Chengdu Guanghua Primary School underwent a check by architecture quality inspectors on Tuesday before resuming classes, a school executive said, refusing to give his name.

Xiong Daxian, president of Sichuan Normal University Experimental Foreign Language School that also resumed classes, said the school buildings were strong and the management had taught students how to respond to earthquakes.

Xiong said all the school’s students were evacuated to the playground within two and a half minutes after the massive earthquake struck at 2:28 p.m. Monday.

In Chengdu, many people began to return home from tents, while hospitals, buses and government institutions were operating.

There were no robberies in Chengdu after the earthquake as of Tuesday, a local newspaper quoted the Chengdu Public Security Bureau as saying.

By Tuesday, Chengdu’s death toll had risen to 959.

http://www.cctv.com/program/cultureexpress/20080515/102477.shtml

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Aerial view of badly stricken Yingxiu Town (believe to be one of the worse damaged with the highest death toll).


HUGE LANDSLIDE - An aerial photo taken on May 14 shows the road from Dujiangyan city to Wenchuan County in southwest China's Sichuan Province is destroyed by landslide caused by Monday's earthquake. The serious devastation of the road affected the transportation of rescue teams and relief materials to the disaster areas. (Xinhua Photo)


Photo taken on May 14, 2008 shows an aerial view of the badly stricken town of Yingxiu in Wenchuan County of southwest China's Sichuan Province, two days after a massive earthquake. (Xinhua Photo)


Photo taken on May 14, 2008 shows an aerial view of the badly stricken town of Yingxiu in Wenchuan County of southwest China's Sichuan Province, two days after a massive earthquake. (Xinhua Photo)


Photo taken on May 14, 2008 shows an aerial view of the badly stricken town of Yingxiu in Wenchuan County of southwest China's Sichuan Province, two days after a massive earthquake. (Xinhua Photo)

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http://www.cctv.com/english/20080515/103349.shtml

Strong aftershock jolts Yingxiu Town in Wenchuan again
Source: Xinhua | 05-15-2008 10:31

BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua) — A strong aftershock jolted Yingxiu Town in the epicenter Wenchuan County again, Xinhua reporter at Yingxiu said here Thursday morning.

Rocks rolled down from the hills and some dilapidated houses, inflicted by the Monday’s devastating earthquake, collapsed completely, Xinhua reporter said.

Editor:Zhang Ning

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Song Xinyi, a 3-year-old earthquake survivor, is saved in earthquake-hit Beichuan County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 14, 2008. Song was saved after being buried in the ruins for more than 40 hours. (Xinhua Photo)


Song Xinyi, a 3-year-old earthquake survivor, is saved in earthquake-hit Beichuan County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 14, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)


Song Xinyi, a 3-year-old earthquake survivor, receives medical treatment after being saved in earthquake-hit Beichuan County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 14, 2008.(Xinhua Photo)

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Relief work makes striking achievements
Source: CCTV.com | 05-15-2008 11:03

As rescuers pull at tangled chunks of buildings and peer into crevices for signs of life amid the devastation, relief work has made some striking achievements.

China’s air force airdropped disaster relief goods to Wenchuan county, Maoxian, Lixian and other quake-hit regions. 200 soldiers from Aba prefecture have reached the epicenter. Another 27-member medical team is on its way. In addition, a 30-member medical team reached Wenchuan by helicopter.

By 12 noon, 3 helicopters loaded with relief goods had landed in Wenchuan. They also evacuated the first batch of 47 injured to the Sichuan provincial capital, Chengdu. Cell phone equipment was also airdropped into Wenchuan.

Military sources said a small base station will be set up, but did not elaborate. Seven PLA helicopters had delivered 12.8 tons of relief goods to Wenchuan and its neighboring counties as of 1 p.m. Wednesday.

In Yingxiu town, about 200 soldiers have taken on rescue work. A senior official from Aba says the situation in Yingxiu is severe. Only 2,000 of the town’s population of 10,000 have survived.

The road from Dujiangyan to Yingxiu has collapsed. Aftershocks have made communication extremely difficult. The road repair is still 42 kilometers from the village.

The situation in 20 towns in Beichuan County is not yet known. Urgent rescue work is continuing, but rainy has made operations more difficult.

Qingchuan County in Guangyuan City is just 300 kilometers away from the epicenter in Wenchuan, and was badly affected by the earthquake. More than 800 people are believed have to died, and more than 5,000 people are injured. Another 300 are still buried. Over 90 children are trapped under a collapsed school dormitory. It’s not known if any of them are still alive.

9,000 people who were rescued in Beichuan County have been taken to Jiujiang Stadium in Mianyang. A temporary rescue center is set up in the city. The victims were separated into different groups, and every group has its own staff and volunteers to offer comfort and help. Electricity meanwhile is back on the first ring road in Mianyang city. But the roads of other counties have not yet been cleared, making it difficult for rescuers to reach.

At team of 50 armed police has arrived in Maoxian earlier on Thursday. 650 more are on the way. 100 paratroopers have arrived in Maoxian on Wednesday afternoon. Officials say although many houses collapsed, the number of causalities is actually less than expected.

The air force has dropped five tons of disaster relief materials, including mineral water, milk and instant noodles, into Mianzhu county. 90 percent of the houses in three towns of the county collapsed, and the river was also blocked by debris. 800 troops have arrived in Mianzhu for rescue work.

http://www.cctv.com/english/20080515/103905.shtml

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THIS GOES WITH POST 167 (SONG’s RESCUE)

Magical moments after earthquake

2008-05-15 11:47:52

BEIJING, May 15 — Dujiangyan and Beichuan have become synonymous with death and destruction after being ravaged by the earthquake which struck Sichuan province on Monday.

But nearly two days later - and amid the despair - the two places had reason to celebrate yesterday.

In Dujiangyan city, exhausted rescuers and residents cheered when they pulled an eight-month-pregnant woman and her mother alive from the rubble of their home 50 hours after they were buried.

And in Beichuan County, a 3-year-old girl who was buried under the debris for 40 hours - with the bodies of her parents shielding her - was miraculously rescued.

Rescue officials in Dujiangyan had been able to speak to the pregnant Zhang Xiaoyan but had to proceed slowly in trying to dig her out for fear that the rubble above her would shift and collapse onto her.

Stricken relatives watched as firemen plucked Zhang, 34, and her mother from the remains of their six-story apartment block.

The two were then rushed to hospital.

“We are very happy. We have been standing here shouting for two days,” said Pan Jianjun, a relative. “We are so grateful to the rescuers and the government.”

Sun Guoli, the fire chief of nearby Chengdu, the provincial capital, said as she watched Zhang being taken away in an ambulance: “It is very moving. It’s a miracle brought about by us all working together It’s a miracle of life.”

Sun was at the scene for the entire duration of the 50-hour rescue operation.

Zhang and her mother were trapped about 6 m high in a pile of concrete slabs and other debris after their building was damaged.

Both looked shaken but not seriously injured when they were pulled out. They had been given water during the whole time and rescue workers were able to talk to them.

“We were told by engineers that the building was very dangerous and highly unstable so the rescue operation was very risky. But it shows how much value we put on saving lives,” Sun said.

In Dujiangyan, more than 1,000 students and teachers from Juyuan Middle School were buried when the building collapsed on Monday. So far more than 60 have been confirmed dead. The total death toll in the city was not available.

In Beichuan county, the parents did not give up on their daughter even as they died.

Song Xinyi, who was buried under the debris of a collapsed building for 40 hours - with the bodies of her parents shielding and protecting her - was miraculously rescued.

Song was severely injured in her legs and was rushed to hospital after she was pulled out of the rubble at 9:40 am.

Witnesses attributed her survival to her parents covering her when their home caved in.

Despite deep wounds on her forehead, Song could talk, and told rescuers her name.

Premier Wen Jiabao, who visited Beichuan yesterday morning, consoled her before she was carried onto an ambulance.

Rescuers found Song at 8 am on Tuesday, but were unable to reach her right away. Her head and shoulders were visible but her legs were buried under her parents’ bodies, and they feared any move could cause further injury.

They gave her food and milk, and sheltered her from the heavy rain as they cleared the ruins to approach her.

Early yesterday, a group of rescuers from Liaoning province gingerly cleared the wreckage while others supported the ramshackle wall with chunks of wood.

The crowd waiting anxiously celebrated Song’s survival but also grieved for her parents who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Up to 5,000 people have been confirmed dead in the county.

(Source: China Daily)

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/15/content_8176167.htm

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Aerial view of badly stricken Yingxiu Town
(same pictures but larger and clearer)
(5 page photo album)

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/15/content_8174986.htm

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The U.S. volunteers who called themselves as Kelsey (2nd L) and Mu Yongshi (3rd L) assist a doctor to treat an injured in the quake-hit Beichuan County in southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 14, 2008. Some foreigners who work or study in Sichuan came to Beichuan to help the rescue and relief works in the devastated region. (Xinhua Photo)

More picture of U.S. volunteers help attend quake survivors are here

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One-year-old Wang Ying sips water while receiving medical treatment in Hanwang town, Mianzhu City of Sichuan Province May 14, 2008. Wang survived the quake when she was thrown out of the window by the powerful quake, and she suffered only bruises on her face. [asianewsphoto]

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medical staff from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) rushes to rescue wounded people after his team arrives at Yingxiu Town of Wenchuan County in southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 14, 2008. A medical team of PLA arrived at quake-stricken area of Wenchuan and Maoxian County on Wednesday. (Xinhua Photo)

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Asia-Pacific News

China allows Japanese rescue team to help in quake-hit area

May 15, 2008, 4:16 GMT

Beijing - China has agreed to Japan sending an emergency rescue team to help with efforts to save tens of thousands of people buried under rubble after a devastating earthquake, the foreign ministry said on Thursday.

‘The Chinese government has agreed to the Japanese government sending professional rescue personnel to help with rescue efforts in the Sichuan earthquake disaster area,’ ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a statement.

The Japanese team is believed to be the first foreign team that China has allowed into the area since a 7.8-magnitude earthquake destroyed thousands of buildings in Sichuan and other areas of south-western China on Monday.

Several towns close to the epicentre were nearly razed, a military relief officer said Wednesday, as the confirmed death toll rose to about 15,000.

At least 26,000 people were believed to be buried in collapsed buildings, while the official Xinhua news agency said more than 30,000 people were missing or out of contact in Sichuan’s Shifang city alone.

Military helicopters began flying aid, medical personnel and relief troops to isolated settlements near the epicentre on Tuesday.

But the extent of the damage and casualties in the worst-hit county of Wenchuan, which has a population of 105,000, remained unclear.

A paramilitary officer who was one of the first outsiders to reach some of the worst affected areas on Tuesday said that several towns were almost razed to the ground.

Heavy rain had initially prevented helicopters from flying emergency aid to Wenchuan while troops were still trying to restore two badly damaged main roads to the county town.

The earthquake was felt in cities hundreds of kilometres away, including Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Bangkok.

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/asiapacific/news/article_1405490.php/China_allows_Japanese_rescue_team_to_help_in_quake-hit_area

[adcycn]

http://cache.tianya.cn/publicforum/content/funinfo/1/1155974.shtml
a post with some photos of parachutists jump out from 4000 meters height to the center area to rescue. Of below are most valleys.
some are dead
Then the second team's plan aborted.

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Classmate “clawed me out with bare hands,” quake survivor recalls

2008-05-15 12:14:17

WENCHUAN, Sichuan, May 15 (Xinhua) — Xiang Xiaolian, a 13-year-old girl, murmured: “The boy clawed me out with his bare hands,” as she lay in bed at the No.1 Hospital affiliated to the West China Medical University.

Xiang was in class at the Xuankou Middle School when the 7.8-magnitude quake hit Wenchuan County on Monday.

Xuankou is a boarding school, and more than 1,200 teachers and students fled to the mountains after the quake. How many were killed is not known.

The total death toll from the quake around southwestern China has been confirmed to be about 15,000.

“The whole building swayed as we were in chemistry class; the teacher asked us to run from the third floor classroom,” recalled Xiang, who was buried by a cement slab and lost consciousness.

Time passed and when Xiang re-awakened, she could sense the light but fainted again. The next time she awakened, it was dark. “I knew it was night then,” she said

“I missed my parents,” said Xiang, adding that “I had to see them again before I died.” Xiang fell into a coma.

HE CLAWED ME OUT WITH BARE HANDS

Xiang was awakened by the voice of Ma Jian, her classmate.

“Xiao Lian, where are you?” the boy shouted in the open air. “You must hold on,” Ma encouraged her as he clawed at the rubble with his hands.

Xiang cried:” Don’t leave me, Ma Jian, at least, not until after I die.”

“I will not, you are the youngest in our class,” Ma replied, digging.

Each time Xiang fell asleep, Ma would call out to her to wake up. After about four hours, Ma freed her. By then, his hands were badly hurt.

They both cried as she was freed, and Ma carried her on his back, out through the school gate.

The wall suddenly collapsed.

“If it had been a few minutes later, neither of us would have escaped,” said Xiang.

(Writing by Xinhua reporter Shi Rong, with reporting by bureau reporters in Sichuan)

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/15/content_8176216.htm

[Doe Eyes]

I didn’t know the PLA had Blackhawk helicopters. Learn something new everyday.

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Leave 1 line of space between link and comments... This will make your link a working link like this

http://cache.tianya.cn/publicforum/content/funinfo/1/1155974.shtml

a post with some photos of parachutists jump out from 4000 meters height to the center area to rescue. Of below are most valleys.
some are dead
Then the second team’s plan aborted.

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33 foreign tourists arrive in Chengdu via military helicopter from quake-hit Wolong

2008-05-15 11:28:09

CHENGDU, May 15 (Xinhua) — Thirty-three tourists from Britain, the United States and France arrived in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, from quake-hit panda town Wolong via military helicopter at 11:05 a.m. on Thursday.

The tourists, who had been stranded in Wolong since the massive quake hit on Monday, were in good health.

Zhang Wenxiang, an official of the Wolong Giant Panda Administration, reported by satellite phone Wednesday afternoon that tourists and journalists stranded in Wolong, including more than 50 foreigners, were safe.

No deaths or injuries have been reported from the tourists and journalists, who had been arranged to stay in a local hotel after the quake, said Zhang.

Telecommunications had been cut for Wolong, famous for the China Wolong Giant Panda Protection and Research Center, since Monday.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/15/content_8176075.htm