China - earthquakes
China to accept emergency help from Japan
Thursday 15 May 2008
100,000 troops and police personnel were deployed on Wednesday on a huge rescue mission to China's Sichuan province. Chinese officials said they would accept their old rival Japan's offer to send additional rescue teams. H.Morton reports.
Thursday 15 May 2008
By France 24 with wire reports
Rescuers in central China struggled with rain and logistical problems Wednesday as they tried to free thousands of people trapped under debris two days after Monday’s devastating 7.9-magnitude earthquake. Chinese officials have welcomed offers of aid from abroad, but on Wednesday told several foreign countries that transportation difficulties meant they could not send rescue workers and sniffer dogs for the time being.
“Getting to the region is proving to be very difficult,” says FRANCE 24’s correspondent Henry Morton, who is currently travelling half way between Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan, and the quake’s epicenter. “The airport in the city has been closed for the last day and a half, it is still partially closed to commercial traffic,” he says, adding that the airport is being used for the military.
Driving to the epicenter, Morton describes the visual change as you travel closer. “A very, very sudden change comes upon you. A lot of tents along the street. Everyone mostly evacuated from their buildings. People sleeping out rough for a third night now - and I can only imagine it’s going to get worse as we continue on this road.”
Sebastian Le Belzic, a FRANCE 24 correspondent in Dujiangyan, close to the epicenter, also describes thousands of people sleeping in the rain, in the streets, while hundreds of volunteers line up to give blood for the wounded.
Sébastien Le Belzic visited the Juyuan school, where for the past two days families have been waiting for the rescue of their children. Over 900 pupils were trapped when the school collapsed following the earthquake. The epicenter is only 100 kilometers away.
“This school of Julian has turned into a symbol of earthquakes. Bodies are covered humbly. There is close to no chance of finding any survivors,” wrote our special correspondent.
Near epicenter, total devastation
The official toll in the earthquake is more than 15,000, but is expected to rise significantly. At least 7,700 people died in one small town alone, Yingxiu, near the quake's epicentre, with only 2,300 surviving, state media reported.
China has dispatched 100,000 military personnel and police to help with rescue work, according to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. Wen visited survivors - including newly orphaned children - in hard-hit Beichuan county on Wednesday, telling them on state television, "Your pain is our pain." He told rescuers: "Time is life…. Saving people's lives is the most important task." Buildings were flattened in the province, hillsides sheared off and roads shattered.
Heavy storms and wrecked roads are hampering efforts to reach some of the hardest-hit areas. The combined tremor and heavy rain have increased the risk of mudslides in the region.
China has received offers of help from Europe, the United States, Australia, Korea and Japan -- offers it has welcomed but declined for now, citing extreme logistical and transport problems. Offers from Australia, South Korea and Japan to send rescue workers and sniffer dogs were politely declined, according to officials in those countries. "We were told that China cannot receive rescuers now due to poor condition of transportation systems," a Japanese foreign ministry official told the AFP.
In eastern Jianxi province, runners participating in the Olympic torch relay paused for a minute's silence to remember the earthquake’s victims.
Be the first to react.
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Tourist captures quake images
Story: A.Mabin, S.Silke, 14/05
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HOPE IS FADING FAST
Henry Morton in Chengdu - 14/5 - 5PM
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F24 IN CHENGDU
Rescue efforts underway at quake epicentre. 14/05 Henry Morton reports.
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REPORT
The climbing death toll. 13/05 (Report: A. Dupuis)
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THE DEBATE
Quake response: a changing China? 13/05
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SPECIAL REPORT
Live report from H. Morton in Chengdu and analysis by D. Crossan - 13/05 4:30pm (GMT+2)
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Images
Map: earthquake in China's Sichuan province
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