Racing to save lives in Yushu county

Rescuers in Yushu Prefecture are trying their best to save as many people as possible. The first 72 hour period after a major quake, is believed to be the best chance to save lives.

After that, the odds of survival shrink significantly. Yang Yan has a look at some of the successful rescue operations.

Rescuers in Yushu Prefecture are trying their best to save as many people as  possible. The first 72 hour period after a major quake, is believed to be the best chance to save lives.

At the Zhaxi Inn in the Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, buildings were leveled after the quake. At about 11 a.m. Friday, rescuers heard noises from the debris.

After hours involved in the painstaking process of removing concrete structures and cutting open reinforced steel, a 13-year-old Tibetan girl was saved. She had been trapped in an enclosed space under layers of fallen concrete.

A 43-year-old woman is rescued after being buried for 48 hours, she suffered only minor injuries. She was holding her baby when the earthquake took place. Fortunately, her family members are also fine. When recalling the horrible moment after being rescued, she says she is thankful and can't help crying.

At a local market, the China International Search and Rescue Team found a girl trapped in a narrow cavity under the debris. Rescuers used heavy-duty cranes to remove tons of broken concrete plates. Tibetan monks from nearby temples also extended a helping hand. After 4 hours of hard work, the girl was saved.

Wang Hongguo, chief of China Int'l Search & Rescue Team, said, "As long as the search operation goes on, I don't care what day it is. We'll work harder and harder, and never give up."

Those rescued were treated immediately. As of 10 a.m. Friday, more than one-thousand severely injured victims were transferred to better hospitals. A disease control team also arrived. Their work will be crucial to contain major outbreaks in the affected area.