Rescue efforts underway after earthquake

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Source: CCTV.com | 05-13-2008 09:08

Local governments affected by the quake have sent rescue teams to provide relief and repair damaged facilities. The central government has also sent rescue teams to the disaster areas.

In some areas near Wenchuan, the quake's epicenter, local governments have started to help with rescue efforts.

In Meishan, rescue teams went to the disaster area to determine the damage and to direct relief work. People's life in Meishan have returned to normal.

Rescuers work in Dujiangyan city of southwest China's Sichuan  Province, on May 13, 2008. A major eathquake measuring 7.8 on  Richter scale jolted Wenchuan County of Sichuan Province at 2:28  p.m. on Monday.(Xinhua/Wang Jianhua)

In Dujiangyan some buildings and walls collapsed. The road between Dujiangyan and Wenchuan has been cut off. Rescuers are pulling people out from beneath the rubble.

Some houses have collapsed in Ya'an. Traffic, water, power and communications were cut off in some areas. The Local government has sent emergency supplies such as medicine and tents to the quake-hit areas.

Cracks were also seen on buildings in Bazhong. Power facilities were damaged after the quake. But were restored after two hours of repairs.

Rescue teams are heading to Wenchuan. But the quake has caused multiple landslides and collapses on the road between Wenchuan and the provincial capital Chengdu.

Rescuer Bao Yuhuai said, "We are very anxious. We have tried our best to go to Wenchuan, but we are blocked here. We will set out as long as we can pass through."

A quake witness said, "When I opened the car door, everyone was running up to the hill. There were many rocks. Many houses and cars were damaged."

The quake was felt in Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan, where life is as normal except schools are closed.

Editor:Zhang Ning