Rain hampers rescue efforts after Sichuan earthquake

The "Golden 72 hours” passed as of 8:02 a.m. Tuesday since powerful earthquake struck Ya’an City in Sichuan Province, China. Some raise concern that causalities and property damage could further escalate due to delays in rescue efforts and successive aftershocks.

Chinese authorities continued rescue operations Tuesday by mobilizing 43,000 rescue workers, including soldiers, armed police and firefighters, in Lungmen Shan, the epicenter of the earthquake. The chief of the Chinese earthquake emergency rescue center said, “We will not give up searching of survivors.” Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang telephoned Wang Dongming, secretary of the Communist Party of China Sichuan Provincial Committee, and urged him to make their utmost efforts to reduce causalities and injuries.

The state-run Xinhua News Agency emphasized in its report that “72 hours” is not the limit for survival, saying on the 16th day after the Wenchuan earthquake five years ago, eight people were rescued. In fact, the 229th survivor has been rescued in Lushan Prefecture at around 11 a.m., after some of blocked roads to Biosing Prefecture reopened Tuesday.

Foods had to be airdropped from helicopters, however, since many villages in highland areas still remain isolated. Miaoxi Reservoir in Siyan County, Lushan Prefecture had cracks on a concrete bank, causing maintenance staff to remain vigilant throughout the night. As heavy rain continued for four days, more roads were shut off. Rescue workers are facing an increased safety risks. A 32-year-old female volunteer was killed by falling rocks during rescue operations in Lushan Prefecture, and communication was cut off with about 20 rescuers from Shanxi Province after a landslide.

koh@donga.com