Nation Rallies to Bring Quake Relief

By staff reporter LI WUZHOU

 

President Hu Jintao cut short his state visit to South America and arrived in Yushu on April 18 to offer quake victims his personal support. Cnsphoto

LESS than two years after the devastating Wenchuan earthquake, a 7.1 magnitude quake struck remote Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province on April 14, 2010, leaving 2,220 dead, 10,000 or more injured and 70 missing.

As China is no stranger to natural disasters the country has a tried, tested and efficient emergency response mechanism. The Yushu temblor was less intense than that in Wenchuan, but high altitude – more than 4,000 meters above sea level – chilly weather, thin air and mountainous terrain nonetheless impeded rescue and relief efforts.

All-Out Rescue Effort

Saving lives was uppermost in the thoughts of the whole nation when reports of the earthquake first came through. President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao made public vows that no effort would be spared to help quake victims. Vice Premier Hui Liangyu arrived at the seismic epicenter of Jiegu Town at around 8 pm on April 14 to set up and lead the national quake relief command. Premier Wen Jiabao postponed planned visits to three Asian countries to fly to Yushu the day after the quake, and President Hu Jintao cut short his state visit to South America and arrived in Yushu four days later to offer quake victims his personal support.