The whole China shakes

[SPJ]

A big earthquake started from Si Chuan.

and the whole China shakes.

[SPJ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHBSdQt9aLY

[SPJ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwDO2...watch_response

[SPJ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVLYv...eature=related

[BruceSteveRoy]

i have a very good friend in chengdu that i hope is ok. but its hard enough to get in touch with her when there isnt a natural disaster. i guess i will just have to wait until she replies to my email. if the interwebs are even working there after this.

[Andy Miles]

She's likely fine.


I live in Cheng Du. We just spent the night in the park. Most buildings in the City are built to withstand quakes. The countryside shacks were the ones to collapse. It was hot at 2:30 and everyone ran outside in their underwear. The ground was moving like waves. Later, when cats were sleeping and animals were generally calm people went back inside, then it started shaking again, so everyone went outside, a bit more prepared to the streets, parks or wherever they could. Some families brought dinner and Chinese white wine with them and played majhong. Others drank when it rumbled and had a party. Then the rains hit. I had anticipated this and made a shelter in the largest park in the city which has fresh water . I was preparing for water/shelter shortage and was trying to call my kung fu students to make sure they were ok, some were still up for training after the first quake. I won't question their dedication to kung fu after this. It shook softly all through the night. My biggest concern was lack of water and 10 million people deciding to panic. On the contrary it rained and 60% of people returned home and slept indoors or simply continued to play majhong. A lot of the city looked like an outdoor music festival, with blankets, snacks and families hanging out together.

As I type the apartment is shaking. Even as the "experts" have said it is over. Despite what they say our bags are right by the door.

Durring one of the aftershock quakes (likely a 3-4) I saw an old woman who must have been 90 years old descending the stairs...one stair every 20sec. It was like something out of a movie. I started to help her down and gave her my arm for support. I was thinking "Come on lady, hurry up." I tried to ask her in Chinese if she minded if I simply picked up up and carried her out. The shaking was steady so I remained relatively patient. I'm not sure if she could speak, but her reaction time was really slow. We got down one stair every 4 seconds and make it down 4 flights before her 70 year old son returned for her.

[GeneChing]

See our Martial Arts Benefit for Quake Victims thread. More to come.

[B-Rad]

Your link points to a "Thundering Mantis" thread from 2001

[SPJ]

Yes. our thoughts and prayers go to the volks and families that were effected by the big quake 2008.

[SPJ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyYKb87pMTU

the world rushed to offer rescue and relief.

[SPJ]

I heard that

the 15th army airborne unit dropped some paratroopers on ground zero of the epi center of wen chuan area. They set up a com center. Rains prevented more paratroopers to be be airdropped.

on the land, there are 500 PLA elite soldiers travel on foot to get into wen chuan area, since all the roads and bridges are destroyed.

as days go by, rescue of survivors become more and more critical

--

relief supplies from Taiwan, already landed on Cheng Du. Ironically, the last time, the planes left Cheng Du for Taipei was among military retreat in the face of Deng xiao Ping, Liu Bo Cheng and Chen Yi army approaching.

--

China agreed to Japan's offering search and rescue teams

China did not take any other assistance from other countries so far.

--

[GeneChing]

Keep bringing us reports. They are fascinating.

My school is O-Mei so we have a lot of ties to Sichuan. Master Tony Chen is from Chengdu as is our wushu coach Ding Wei. Tony's immediate family are all here already. Ding is trying to get his parents here now. I helped him with a letter. He reached them on cell phone and they are alright.

[SPJ]

there are many good singers from si chuan.

Tan Wei Wei.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix_J1...eature=related

Zhang Liang Ying.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOatM...eature=related

Kelsang Metok.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6FoWskUO_U

Alan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbUsD_5jgZ0

--

[SPJ]

according to the most recent reports'

1. Army engineer corps are clearing the roads, and build some makeshift bridges, they are only 18 kilometers away from wen chuan, the epic center. once the roads are cleared, massive help will be arrived.

2. Taiwan's search and rescue teams are going in along with search and rescue dogs or k-9 teams.

3. 4 charter flights from Taiwan are approved, they will evacute Taiwan residents from Cheng Du.

4. one of 6 guest workers is from Si Chuan. they are calling homes to see how families are doing, so the guest workforce or labor market is paralysed thruout China.

--

[SPJ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqgLuLL92G8

a news clip from HK TVB.