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Foreign help moves into China earthquake zone
Brisbane News.Net
Thursday 15th May, 2008
Chinese authorities say they expect the death toll from Monday's devastating earthquake in the southwestern Sichuan province, to reach at least 50,000.
Some 20,000 people have been confirmed dead.
Thousands of bodies are still beneath the rubble but rescues are still occurring.
On Thursday an 11-year-old girl was pulled from the rubble after being stuck there for 68 hours.
The Chinese government has sent another 30,00 troops and 90 helicopters to the quake-hit region.
Some soldiers have walked to 40 kilometres to help.
Half the epicentre town of Yingxiu, where corpses are lined along the river, has been flattened and 90 per cent of the buildings remaining look unsafe.
Some of the biggest casualties appear to have come from school buildings across Sichuan province.
The Communist Party has told officials to ensure social stability, as the quake spawned rumours of chemical spills, fears of dam bursts and scenes of collective desperation.
Xinhua news agency said 17 "malicious rumour-mongers" had been punished for spreading "false information, sensational statements and sapping public confidence".
State Media warned of the rising risk of disease from unburied bodies and primitive sewage facilities, while calling for faster distribution of food, water, clothing and tents.
Rescuers in the city of Dujiangyan wrapped corpses dragged from the rubble in tarpaulins and sped them to morgues.
Parents have been asked to search for children at the morgue in shifts.
In the meantime China is threatened by more flooding. Many rivers in the region have risen to dangerous levels due to landslides.
Health officials said there have been no outbreaks of disease so far, with workers rushing to inoculate survivors against disease, supply them with drinking water, and find ways to dispose of an overwhelming number of corpses.
After initially refusing offers of foreign aid workers, China has welcomed a Japanese rescue team.
Made up of firefighters, police, coast guard and aid officials, the first half of the team arrived in Beijing on Thursday and will be at the disaster area on Friday.
Japan and China have been at odds for years over disputed borders and Japan's wartime invasion of China.
The Foreign Ministry said Russian, South Korean and Singaporean teams would join soon.
China had so far received international aid worth more than $100 million and materials worth more than US$10 million, but still needs supplies of tents, clothes, communication equipment, machines for disaster relief, and medicines.
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Comments on this story
Anonymous
05-15-08, 11:33 PM |
China is able to multi task all these disasters coming her way. It seems like a test of endurance in the face of fresh dangers. May the thousand hands buddha helps China to overcome these disasters.
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wacama
05-15-08, 09:56 PM |
Foreign help moves into China earthquake zone
That is a good news for the Lebanese people and the parties involved is getting some efforts to make it happen in the blue sea of the Med. They must compromise to make it happen.
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OneVoice
05-16-08, 01:18 AM |
Foreign help moves into China earthquake zone
In a situation like this, i’m pretty sure the boys in china can’t be picky when it comes to accepting foreign aid... unless of course they have something to hide.
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joebanana
05-15-08, 11:09 PM |
Thanks for the help.They needed most. Pls.china open your air corridor so other country could help the helpless people tarpped in the rubbles of the quake.Set a side all political notions,it is now people needs help. Thanks again world with heart they need help from you all. God bless for those people who is not Chinese that help.
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onlooker
05-16-08, 11:53 AM |
this is karma at work. china is being punished for all the suffering they put tibetans through. free tibet!
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