------Program code: RC-080605-04905 (what's this?)
Source: CCTV.com
06-05-2008 14:30
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An 8-magnitude earthquake struck Sichuan, China on May 12 14:28. The initial shock disabled the local communications system and it took several hours before the world realized the extent of the horrific damage.
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As information was finally transmitted out of the disaster zone the world watched on in disbelief as the death toll soared to 9000 by midnight with 60000 people still missing.
In a crucial display of leadership Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in Sichuan within hours to oversee the rescue operations. He pledged full and immediate response.
With the worst hit areas being inaccessible by road, rescue teams air dropped into the disaster zone. On the 16th of May President Hu Jintao arrived to further boost the morale of the rescue workers.
Right now what you see is one of the worst hit areas of Beichuan. This previously beautiful town lies at the base of the mountains, and it is reported that 80% of the town has been destroyed with 30% of the population missing or killed.
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As we trekked into Beichuan the first place we arrive at was the remains of a high school where over 1000 people had died and over 100 rescued. The people who had time to escape their homes before they collapsed would have been met by the deadly landslide of massive boulders that you can see.
Thousands were forced to evacuate amid panic of the flood. But the rescue operations continued. The main challenge for the rescue operation was access to the worst hit areas due to the threat of more landslides and blocked roads.
We visited West China Hospital in the area where 1700 earthquake victims had been already admitted. The patients were required to receive special medical attention specific to earthquake related injures.
Despite the window of opportunity has finding further survivors diminishes quickly, the search continued relentlessly.
Editor:Yang
