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| The children from the SOS Children's Village Chengdu are relieved having survived the earthquake - Photo: SOS Archives |
Soon after the first set of strong earthquakes, the co-workers quickly recovered from the first shock and dashed into the kindergarten. They helped the teachers with getting the children out to open space straight away. In no time all children were safe and sound outside on the playground. We did everything to make the children feel secure and they soon settled.
After making sure that all children in the village were safe, the adults tried to contact schools. Since telephones did not work, many SOS mothers ran to the school to pick up the children.
By late afternoon the situation in the village had settled down and information on the well-being of most children had been confirmed. Apart from some children who could not have been contacted because they were studying at far away schools, children returned safely to the village. Several children had a few minor scratches.
After all people of the village were taken to safe places, the state of the facilities was checked. The family houses and facilities in the village remained undamaged. There were only some small crevices in the SOS Mothers' Training Centre, the SOS Youth Facility and one or two family houses, which do not present any safety risk.
The strongest quake had lasted over three minutes. Only 15 minutes later, television and radio began broadcasting reports about the disaster. People gathered around the radio to receive latest information and learn more about self-help.
The government took instant action in creating a series of policies protecting public facilities, maintaining stability, organizing rescue and relief programmes and publicising the latest information.
On the days after the quake hundreds of aftershocks followed. Most of them were minor ones. We only felt a few of them. All primary and middle schools in Chengdu are closed for the time being.
For safety reasons the children will remain in the village until further notice. Village life will continue as normal as possible. We are taking precautions and are alert to any further aftershocks. Our co-workers are on 24-hour duty. The village also provides shelter to some people in the nearby community.
The village is safe now, but the disaster has caused serious destruction to the province of Sichuan. Especially some counties 50 km away from our village were badly hit. According to current figures*, death toll rises up to at least 20,000 and 25,000 people are still buried under ruins. According to officials 64,040 people, 12,587 of them seriously injured, have been treated since Monday and all in all 10 million people have been affected by the quake. Tens of Thousands of people are homeless and many people who used to live in tall buildings are scared and chose to sleep outside for the time being.
* according to figures on 15 May 2008