Comments on: China: Chengdu Earthquake

By: Asia Expats

Asia Expats — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 16:04:38 +0000

Family members and friends unable to verify the safety and welfare of U.S. citizens in the affected area should call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, or from other areas via a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. U.S. citizens in the area are urged to monitor the local news. Those residing or traveling in China are reminded to register with the U.S. Embassy or the closest U.S. Consulate, either online at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs or in person at U.S. Embassy Beijing or at one of the following consulates:

U.S. Consulate General Chengdu: Number 4, Lingshiguan Road, Section 4, Renmin Nanlu, Chengdu 610041, tel. 86-28-8558-3992, email: consularchengdu@state.gov. The U.S. Consulate in Chengdu is open for full consular services and is assisting U.S. citizens in the region.

U.S. Embassy Beijing: No. 2 Xiu Shui Dong Jie, Chaoyang District, tel: 86-10-6532-3431, email: amcitbeijing@state.gov. Embassy’s website: beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn. U.S. Embassy Beijing can be reached 24 hours a day at 86-10-6532-3431.
U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou: 5th Floor, Tianyu Garden (II phase), 136-146 Lin He Zhong Lu, Tianhe District, tel. (86-20) 8518-7605 or 86-20-8121-8000; email: GuangzhouACS@state.gov. Guangzhou adoptions email: GuangzhouA@state.gov.

U.S. Consulate General Shanghai: Westgate Mall, 8th Floor, 1038 Nanjing Xi Lu, Shanghai 200041; tel. (86-21) 3217-4650, email: Shanghaiacs@state.gov.

By: Carl Parker

Carl Parker — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 13:01:22 +0000

Alexander et al….

We made and photographed the trip to ChingCheng Mountain this past weekend. Everything looked under control although the damage was impressive to say the least. Refugee tents have been set up and look okay. Not much activity in the area.

Check this link to visit the Earthquake thread for an overview of ChingCheng mountain:
http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1635#post1635

If you want more info and pictures, follow the link on the Earthquake thread to the full ride report.

Thanks!
Carl

By: Alexander Den

Alexander Den — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:22:24 +0000

Carl Parker,
Thank You, I will awaiting your photoreport.

By: Carl Parker

Carl Parker — Thu, 29 May 2008 13:23:19 +0000

Alexander,
I may be riding to QingChengShan soon to help a friend retrieve a motorcycle. I will try to take some pictures and post a link here.

Knights,
There’s good people everywhere, the question is what kind of people do we surround ourselves with that makes the difference.

By: starspangledbanner

starspangledbanner — Wed, 28 May 2008 23:02:50 +0000

Knights’ applause of Americans is very touching but hey this is just so NOT about how great some other nation or nationality is. Have a good look over the pond dude. Many Brits such as Hao Mins have been doing their bit too in the here and now even if he does post multiple entries simultaneously. It must be hell over there in the bunkers sending out short messages and codes to the world. This is about world unity and sorry to say its not being led by foreigners but by the Chinese government NOT about feel good self-gratification.

By: Knights

Knights — Wed, 28 May 2008 13:06:50 +0000

Many people on here are so kind. After Jack Cafferty said “chinese were goons and thugs” I almost lost faith in Americans. It’s nice to know that there are still many rational and warm-hearted Americans and others out there that we are not aware of.

Cheers!

By: Alexander Den

Alexander Den — Wed, 28 May 2008 11:40:32 +0000

Who knows, what temples in QingChengShan was damaged?
I was there undo 2008-04-15.

By: Bec

Bec — Wed, 28 May 2008 08:30:10 +0000

i’m travelling to china in august.

i was planning on catching a train from kunming to chengdu and then on to beijing.
does anyone know if this is still possible?

By: Chomy54

Chomy54 — Sun, 25 May 2008 13:00:57 +0000

Traveling to China in August. Would like to do anything I can to help during that time- is there any volunteering work that could be done? I’m an english teacher & was a healthcare assistant and my friend is a doctor. If we could help in any way, though it is a few months away we would very much like to.

By: Hao Min

Hao Min — Sun, 25 May 2008 09:27:17 +0000

Ctd.
There has been some criticism on the reluctance to involve foreign teams in the rescue operations. Some responses that I completely agree with have been: -
Adequate manpower was quickly available, although there was a shortage of heavy lifting equipment.
An obvious language barrier would have slowed operations. Even the Chinese authorities failed to communicate with some casualties because of dialects.
A reliance on high-tech listening and gas detection equipment can slow down a larger scale search operation because they require everyone else to stop.
China places a very high importance on the safety of its foreign ‘guests’ – more to worry about in a very dangerous area would have redirected their resources away from essential work.

By: Hao Min

Hao Min — Sun, 25 May 2008 08:21:45 +0000

Ctd.
Although only less than 50 miles from the epicentre, we in Chengdu were fortunate to escape the worst effects of the earthquake. The city lies in a basin, the ground and substrate of which apparently reduced the intensity (it can work the opposite way). Cities such as Dujiangyan, Beichuan and Wenchuan did not share the same fate; in some areas 80-90% of buildings were flattened or beyond repair – many in the first 10-15 seconds. Landslides and road damage instantly cut off the more remote towns and villages, later mudslides caused by blockages from landslides brought further danger. In an area with sheer mountains and roads cut into the hillsides, there is little wonder that it took several days for help to reach some communities.

By: Hao Min

Hao Min — Sun, 25 May 2008 05:58:52 +0000

Ctd.
I doubt that any cladding or non-structural parts of buildings have been removed to allow detailed examinations. However, I am very impressed with the way wheels were set in motion.
I know that it probably seems hard to comprehend the above checks happening in parallel with the search, rescue and relief operations, but manpower and bureaux to coordinate these types of functions are not in short supply here. To a large degree, life in Chengdu returned to normal the next day and millions of people got on with their jobs.

By: Hao Min

Hao Min — Sun, 25 May 2008 05:49:11 +0000

Shana,
I am certainly not affronted, since I am a British engineer simply observing what has been going on here.
I did not state that inspections had been thorough, or carried out by experts. Nor can I comment on what happened outside Chengdu, but here teams were sent out to inspect the structural integrity of buildings (hospitals, schools and government buildings seem to have been first) with clear instructions on where to check and what signs to look for. Our private area of 39 families had been given this inspection before the end of the second day. I suppose that if a suspected fault were found, that properly trained people would be called in.

By: Knights

Knights — Thu, 22 May 2008 14:51:22 +0000

The 5 million homeless earthquake victims at this point are urgently needing tents.

I donated money that hopefully will buy a dozen camping tents.

By: Warren Rodwell

Warren Rodwell — Wed, 21 May 2008 23:33:50 +0000

British Embassy staff are assisting British nationals in the affected area; if you are concerned for relatives and friends you should call the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 0207 008 1500.

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/china/