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China quake toll soars as full horror begins to emerge (China Quake Info Thread 2)
AFP ^ | 5/14/08 | AFP

Posted on 05/14/2008 12:37:27 AM PDT by stlnative

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.


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: asia; china; chinaquake; earthquake; sichuan
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To: Rick.Donaldson
oh,you must be very old and pertinacious.You speak like a general or something.Wow,what a honour.
Sorry I'm not a general but a common folk.And I dont have any briefings,do you find yours in the baggage you took in 1980s,I'm curious,I do.
Well,I suggest you play some xbox360 games or PSP,they're more funny and constructive than reading those bridfings,I assure you.I know a shop in Shanghai which sell PSP only in one thousand RMB,that's,er,a few more than one hundred US dollars ,I think.Almost all my classmates have one,really.And I know some american also buy from there,maybe they are your friends,the "whole lot of folks smarter than you" you mentioned.
Trade is trade.There are also rules in it.DO you only accept the trade good for USA and bad for other country?Wow,then you should participate in the election of President.
241 posted on 05/15/2008 8:52:44 AM PDT by adcycn
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To: laberphany

Well I hope you wind many of the skirmishes in this war to save life. All the best to your people.


242 posted on 05/15/2008 12:46:57 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (If you continue to hold your nose and vote, and always win, your nation will be destroyed.)
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To: hinckley buzzard

Neither Russia or China have shown much real care for their populace over the decades.

I appreciate the mention of Mao’s statement.

I don’t understand people who think this isn’t likely the chinese leadership’s thinking.

What baffles me, is why Russia thinks it’s safe to align with China. When China is done with the West, it’s going to set it’s sights on it.


243 posted on 05/15/2008 12:59:57 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (If you continue to hold your nose and vote, and always win, your nation will be destroyed.)
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To: Sue Perkick

Thanks Sue. It’s nice to see folks expess sympthy that can be read by Chinese nationals righ tnow.


244 posted on 05/15/2008 1:01:31 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (If you continue to hold your nose and vote, and always win, your nation will be destroyed.)
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To: ninesongs

Thank you for your response Ninesongs. I’m sure you speak for a great many Chinese people when you express your thoughts here.

Take care.

D1


245 posted on 05/15/2008 1:10:20 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (If you continue to hold your nose and vote, and always win, your nation will be destroyed.)
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To: Rick.Donaldson
at first ,PLS don't mind my poor english,I'm using dictionary hard now^.^,some phraseological mistake will be in follow text

I'm an accountant work for a private company,no connection of gov,I have been observed of gov changs by a civilian's point of view sometimes

I think some lie which from gov can't being die out for long time

cause there's a huge inertia

in fact,all of Chinese who care gov changes have been observed of CCTV changes,a little change is happening since 3.14, and with quake comes,CCTV seems suddenly be more open than before, never see these( that open like this time) for N years,in fact,some local authority TV system seems open even more than CCTV

in my eyes,it's a huge change since 1978 for gov media system,since 1978, economic changes are abundant and great,I see the city and country and village be affluent than yesterday more and more,it's very great,for example,I have live in HangZhou for 8 years,but I can't remember what image it was 5 years ago,all changed,it's all changed in economic developing,and another example could be my hometown,it is a small town in a mountainous area, already can't find images in former days

all of these great changes since a article named "实践是检验真理的一切标准”(maybe could translate it to " the way to prove truth only is put into practice ") which appeared in "people's daily" newspaper in 1978-05-11,before the article appeared,economic developing mode be a great change

but there's a important gov department changes few since 1978,so few,it's CCTV,Chinese say it always "报喜不报忧“(it means CCTV only televise nice news not televise bad news and always apple-polish around gov leader ),3.14Tibet,we watch some changes,5.12quake,we watch more changes,and some local authority TV seems info open even more than CCTV,I can still watched some lies or manipulate in TV report,but a huge change is coming truly,I can feel it

I'v already feel,that some new changes in political be born with Drang which be derived from middle class,economic developing is making more than 200 million people into middle class,although it's only 14% for all of Chinese,but it's being a power group in political fashion fast now,and with civilian be more rich day and day,there are many actual policy would be encroaching people's behalf more and more,than more conflict will be born,than changes be more and more

Change China is a very long difficult arduous job,can not achieve aim in short time

I don't like aboil transform,it's unpractical and easy to make turbulence


246 posted on 05/15/2008 8:13:38 PM PDT by communion
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To: communion
"Die!You evil ChiCom!"

haha,that's someone here will call you I think. ^ ^

I just learned these new words from some threads.I saw almost every chinese are awarded this title by some people here, which makes me recall the same thing happens in our chinese forum,dont' you? ^ ^

Nice to see more other warmhearted people here.They are more discussible.I just give you a warn which I feel may happen.Because your words are more like ChiCom with their angle of view.haha,take it easy.

247 posted on 05/16/2008 12:18:45 AM PDT by adcycn
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To: Lokibob

That earthquark( so-called Tangshan earthquake) did not hit the same region. Tanshan is in the northeast of China, but Wenchuan is in the southwest, which also has a much lower density of population.


248 posted on 05/16/2008 12:50:48 AM PDT by yangsuli
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To: DoughtyOne

That’s a little ridiculous....
I can’t see why Chinese gov would want Chinese to think Americans are devils.And for most of them who live in Wenchuan, they got the impression of Americans from Hollywood’s movies.


249 posted on 05/16/2008 1:01:59 AM PDT by yangsuli
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To: All
news:
the Ministry of Construction official declare that gov will investigate why school be destroyed more than other buildings in the quake today by netmeeting
somebody is doubtful of quality for school buildings

250 posted on 05/16/2008 1:12:03 AM PDT by communion
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To: yangsuli

You can make the case that I have gotten this all wrong, but after appoligizing for making my case, I got a response from someone who agreed with my perceptions.

The Chinese government needs support from it’s populace, when it does things. It just makes it easier if the don’t have to buck the home crowd.

China is gearing for war. They are spending a massive amount of their budget to build aircraft carriers and a slew of other top notch weapons systems.

Do you think the U.S. is intent on invading China? I dbout it. Who does the government think is going to? With that in mind, what is the need for this military build-up?

You’ll have to forgive me for thinking someone over there isn’t quite as favorable to the U.S. as some would think.

Once again, I like the Chinese people. I am not convinced th government is our friend.

I appreciate your comment. I would like to see your thoughts on this.


251 posted on 05/16/2008 1:20:55 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (If you continue to hold your nose and vote, and always win, your nation will be destroyed.)
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To: DoughtyOne

I am not trying to convince you that Chinese gov is your friend, and I never will. When it comes to politics, I believe that there would be no friends, at least no real friends.

However, It’s a pity that you get a totally wrong impression about Chinese. I sincerely hope that you can learn more about China, and it would not be hard in this information era.

As for that warthing, it’s really inappropriate to discuss it under this thread. PEOPLE ARE LOSING LIVES! It’s just a time for human beings to human beings.

Let’s pray for those who suffered.


252 posted on 05/16/2008 4:31:12 AM PDT by yangsuli
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To: DoughtyOne

I can only speak for MYSELF and express MY OWN thoughts.


253 posted on 05/16/2008 12:18:37 PM PDT by ninesongs
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To: stlnative; All
SINA launches news site in English to provide timely China news and content to the international community

I saw it in the biggiest news site in china and hope it will help you know more about recent news. http://english.sina.com/china/1/2008/0516/159405.html

http://english.sina.com/z/080512sichuanquake/index.shtml

254 posted on 05/16/2008 6:38:46 PM PDT by adcycn
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To: adcycn

Thanks for the link.


255 posted on 05/16/2008 7:01:24 PM PDT by meanie monster
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To: adcycn

Thank you - that is a very nice website - many photos!


256 posted on 05/16/2008 8:10:09 PM PDT by stlnative
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To: meanie monster
Did you see this one?

A survivor carrying goods evacuates the area past a huge rock lying on top of a car on a road near a mountain in the centre of earthquake-hit Beichuan county, Sichuan province, May 16, 2008. (Jason Lee/Reuters)

I think it is totaled !!! (well they might be able to salvage the wheel on that tire)

There is no way in hell that I would have lived that close to the mountain. Let's hope they don't rebuild this area. Those boulders are huge!
257 posted on 05/16/2008 8:30:31 PM PDT by stlnative
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To: yangsuli

Thank you Yangsuli. I agree with your closing remark. Please don’t think that I think the general Chinese people don’t like us. I know that my thoughts for them are positive, and during this period I certainly with you and all of them well.

I have been quite sad to read of the earthquake and the problems it caused.

All the best to you and your people during this difficult time.

D1


258 posted on 05/16/2008 8:50:02 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (If you continue to hold your nose and vote, and always win, your nation will be destroyed.)
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To: stlnative; meanie monster; All
in fact the original chinese version site contains more photos

here are some more links of the biggest china news site,all photos

http://news.163.com/photoset/00AN0001/4465.html

http://news.sohu.com/s2008/dizhen_pic/

http://news.sina.com.cn/z/08earthquake/2.shtml

259 posted on 05/16/2008 10:10:24 PM PDT by adcycn
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To: ninesongs

I was not attempting to say you literally spoke for others. I was saying that I am sure many of your fellow citizens probably agree with you.

Thanks for your response.

D1


260 posted on 05/18/2008 6:13:11 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (If you continue to hold your nose and vote, and always win, your nation will be destroyed.)
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