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This is some of the equipment that trained rescuers could use when they are able to get to the location.

Hydraulic Handi Rescue System HRS-93

Every head-unit is connected into a handy Pump-unit and interchanged with another. The robust quick-change coupling allows you to exchange quickly, selecting an appropriate head-unit at the site. Self-contained, battery-powered design with a combined weight of 24 lb. or less is ideal for operations at remote sites and in confined space.

Firefighter Training Conference. Collapsed building equipment.

Ogura Product: Hydraulic Handi Rescue System HRS-93

The Maxiforce Air Lifting Bag is a thin, strong, molded envelope. It is made from a Neoprene covered Aramid reinforcement and has the power to lift, move or shift weights up to 70 tons. Paratech’s Air Lifting Bags are available in 14 different sizes.

FDIC2008: Hall A/618 , Outside/7031 Air Lifting Bags

Product of Paratech Inc: Air Lifting Bags

Training:

Your tools are very similar to ours. My heavy rescue truck even has a few of the paratech air bags and rescue struts. Our hydraulic tools come from the Hurst company and are commonly referred to by American firefighters as “The Jaws of life"

I feel very helpless having a truck full of the tools you so desperately need and being too far away to help.

Zipingpu Hydropower plant stopped by quake

According to the Sichuan provincial government on Tuesday morning, the Wenchuan earthquake has caused severe cracks in the dam of the Zipingpu Hydropower Station. The plant and associated buildings have collapsed, and some are partly sunk. The whole installation is out of commission.

Located at the junction of Dujiangyan City and Wenchuan County on the upper Minjiang River, the Zipingpu Hydropower Plant was one of the first 10 landmark projects of the Western Development plan. It is also the principal project in the province’s 10th five-year plan. The station was brought into service in 2006.

At 2:28 p.m. on Monday an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale pounded Wenchuan County in the Tibetan-Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Aba, Sichuan Province, leveling some 500,000 homes in the affected areas and leaving at least 9,219 people dead in the eight affected provinces, the Ministry of Civil Affairs confirmed.

(China.org.cn May 13, 2008)

http://www.china.org.cn/china/wenchuan_earthquake/2008-05/13/content_15201601.htm