Quake toll hits 1,144 as rescue clock is ticking
Source: Xinhua |
April 17, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
The death toll climbed to 1,144 and another 417 remained missing late yesterday, about two-and-a-half days after a devastating earthquake shook northwest China's Qinghai Province.
The magnitude-7.1 earthquake, which shook the Yushu County in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu at 7:49am Wednesday, has left 11,744 people injured, including 1,192 serious cases, Xia Xueping, spokesman for the emergency rescue headquarters, told a press briefing late yesterday.
Xia said the death toll jumped yesterday because the expanding rescue forces recovered more bodies from the debris with the help of large rescue equipment. The missing list also climbed as the migrant population in the business town was counted for the first time, he said.
Thousands of rescue workers have been fighting fatigue, nausea from altitude sickness and racing against the clock to try to reach people who may be still alive in the rubble.
There was elation in Gyegu Town as a teenage girl emerged alive after more than two days under the flattened ruins of a hotel.
The 13-year-old was immediately carried to a medical center town at about 2pm as relatives cried, monks prayed, and rescuers clapped.
About two hours later, a Tibetan woman in her 80s was recovered by rescuers from the rubble near central plaza of Gyegu Town, 57 hours after the quake.
The old woman's legs had been broken but she was recovering well after medical treatment, according to the hospital.
Huang Jianfa, captain of China International Search and Rescue Team, said emergency rescue operations around the world have proved elderly people and females have more chances of survival in earthquakes than young people and males. Huang said that's because they are generally mild-tempered, which helps preserve body energy beneath the debris.
The lives saved were an acute reminder to the weary rescuers that the time for survival is slipping away.
Thousands of rescuers know they are racing against the clock to pull more people from the debris in the remote northwest town. The optimum survival time is just 72 hours.
And the high altitude, thin air, freezing temperatures and electricity shortages are hampering their efforts.
By yesterday, at least two dozen trained rescuers had stood down due to altitude sickness, said police and military sources participating in the rescue. The impoverished town sits about 4,000 meters above sea level.
The tremor flattened 15,000 residential buildings in Gyegu town near the epicenter and many people are believed still trapped under the rubble, rescuers said.
Conditions are especially hard for the injured who are yet to be reached.
A Tibetan woman, Jang La, 43, said at a medical tent that she was buried for more than 50 hours without food and water.
"I thought no one would manage to save us and I lost hope, but as I yelled and yelled for help, they came and rescued us," Jang said.
The magnitude-7.1 earthquake, which shook the Yushu County in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu at 7:49am Wednesday, has left 11,744 people injured, including 1,192 serious cases, Xia Xueping, spokesman for the emergency rescue headquarters, told a press briefing late yesterday.
Xia said the death toll jumped yesterday because the expanding rescue forces recovered more bodies from the debris with the help of large rescue equipment. The missing list also climbed as the migrant population in the business town was counted for the first time, he said.
Thousands of rescue workers have been fighting fatigue, nausea from altitude sickness and racing against the clock to try to reach people who may be still alive in the rubble.
There was elation in Gyegu Town as a teenage girl emerged alive after more than two days under the flattened ruins of a hotel.
The 13-year-old was immediately carried to a medical center town at about 2pm as relatives cried, monks prayed, and rescuers clapped.
About two hours later, a Tibetan woman in her 80s was recovered by rescuers from the rubble near central plaza of Gyegu Town, 57 hours after the quake.
The old woman's legs had been broken but she was recovering well after medical treatment, according to the hospital.
Huang Jianfa, captain of China International Search and Rescue Team, said emergency rescue operations around the world have proved elderly people and females have more chances of survival in earthquakes than young people and males. Huang said that's because they are generally mild-tempered, which helps preserve body energy beneath the debris.
The lives saved were an acute reminder to the weary rescuers that the time for survival is slipping away.
Thousands of rescuers know they are racing against the clock to pull more people from the debris in the remote northwest town. The optimum survival time is just 72 hours.
And the high altitude, thin air, freezing temperatures and electricity shortages are hampering their efforts.
By yesterday, at least two dozen trained rescuers had stood down due to altitude sickness, said police and military sources participating in the rescue. The impoverished town sits about 4,000 meters above sea level.
The tremor flattened 15,000 residential buildings in Gyegu town near the epicenter and many people are believed still trapped under the rubble, rescuers said.
Conditions are especially hard for the injured who are yet to be reached.
A Tibetan woman, Jang La, 43, said at a medical tent that she was buried for more than 50 hours without food and water.
"I thought no one would manage to save us and I lost hope, but as I yelled and yelled for help, they came and rescued us," Jang said.
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