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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