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China’s Devastating Earthquake

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china1.jpgMany have died in the earthquake that hit the Chengdu region of China that has resulted in rural villages getting almost totally wiped out. Several schools have collapsed and children are the ones who suffered most of the brunt of this, one of the deadliest earthquakes in the recent history of China. Sadly, a few months away from them hosting the 2008 Olympics, many have died and people have criticized the government for continuing revelry about the event whilst thousands are dead with thousands still missing. Many buildings collapsed and people were buried alive and some crushed to their deaths. The booming Chinese economy shattered by the quake forcing them to send the largest military and emergency reaction force into action. Some areas were so severely affected that even the government has had little contact with regions. Cellular networks were cut off and electricity and water supplies cut off. The government has reacted swiftly to the disaster but say they can manage the disaster for now. With the tremors felt as far away as Beijing, people were alarmed and rushed to the streets due to fears of building collapses. None have suffered any in the capital and all the major Olympic venues are structurally sound.

Originally posted on May 13, 2008 @ 6:03 am

Chinese Quake Update

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china2.jpgMany have died and there are still a lot of people missing in the deadly earthquake that struck on the 12th of May. The government has sent in their elite paratroopers into the most inaccessible areas that are still cut off from the rescue efforts in hopes of getting a better picture of the total devastation. The Chinese government has already asked for help with regards to rescue equipment and supplies, most of which have already been fielded in the many affected areas. With thousands of soldiers working frantically to free survivors still trapped beneath the many collapsed structures, questions are arising from these areas where some of the most heavily damaged structures are schools and government buildings. Days after the quake, rescuers are getting desperate for the first two days are the most critical and important to get people out. After that amount of time, only bodies would be found but soldiers and other rescuers are keeping hopes up as they work as fast as they can to get to people still trapped in the rubble. The country is beginning to receive aid from Western countries who early on have expressed their intent to help the Chinese government. With resources stretched to the limits, the aid is quickly being fielded to areas that need it most. For more information on how you can help the victims of the Chinese earthquakes you can contact the UN, and other aid agencies who have been working hard to send aid to the many who have suffered as a result of one of the most deadly quakes of recent times.

Originally posted on May 16, 2008 @ 6:16 am

News from China’s Sichuan Province

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china3.jpg
The death toll has reached 32,000 lives but this number is expected to go into the 50,000 mark for many are still missing in the collapsed rubble that used to be schools and buildings that have been found to have been made not to earthquake standards set by the government. The Chinese government has promised to look into the matters but they insist that the main priority today a week after the killer quake was still saving lives.
Rescue workers move from area to area searching through the rubble with family members wailing in the distance crying for their lost loved ones. As they fail to find anyone to rescue, they move on to the next location much to the discontent of the helpless parents and family members who continue to dig as they try to find the bodies of their loved ones whom they know are still deep in the ruins. Amidst warnings from the UN’s Health experts have had the government mobilize disinfection teams to the many affected areas to spray disinfectants all around the temporary housing areas due to fears of disease outbreaks. They have also advised the government to begin burying the dead for they are continuing to pile up in temporary morgues where they pose a serious health risk.
The government acted swiftly and the international community has taken the call for help but little can be done for the rescue efforts for the extreme length of time and aftershocks have further settled the already mangled buildings. The rescue effort is in the final stages and soon would be turned into a recovery operation to remove dead bodies for proper disposal which if left alone creates the perfect conditions for disease. The death toll is rising slowly as more and more bodies are being pulled. Last Saturday, 165 people were rescued alive including an elderly woman who raised the hopes of rescuers and citizens alike. But time is against any other survivor for the human body can only survive a few days without water and adding injuries to the mix, chances of survival are continuing to fade. The government has announced that the torch relay has been suspended for now and that an official three day mourning holiday is in effect to allow people to mourn for their lost loved ones.

Originally posted on May 19, 2008 @ 6:19 am