CJW
05-13-2008, 09:14 AM
My friend Zhou in Singapore wrote this. I thought you guys may find it interesting and/or take something away from it.
12th May 2008 14:28 GMT +0800, an earthquake of magnitude 7.8 happened at Wenchuan, Szechuan province, China. Meanwhile I was hiking at Mount QingCheng, only 37 km away from epicenter.
It came so sudden, yet so silent. Szechuan never had such a strong earthquake in its history. The most recent strong earthquake it experienced was more than 30 years ago in 1976. Tangshan earthquake, where the epicenter was thousand miles away from the province. It had a such strong impact that even Szechuan felt it too. So no one expected that an earthquake would erupt in our backyard.
Its my annual routine to stay in Mount QingCheng every summer and go hiking everyday, for the experience and the scenery. Today, just like any other ordinary hiking days, i took lunch and went hiking as usual. Halfway through the trail, the earth start to shake 'gently'. My first thought was that the military bombardment squad stationed here was having some sort of practice. Right after this thought I realize that no loud sound was heard. And then, the earth start to vibrate violently.
'Oh crap! Will I be gone?' Thats the only thought in my mind.
Standing in the middle of the narrow path, on my left was solid n stiff cliff, on my right was the bottom of valley, few hundred meters down a rather stiff slope. I could hardly stand still as the earth under me was so unstable, and I could just slip down the valley if I run during the earthquake. I kneed down on the path, putting my forehead against the ground, trying to make my center of gravity as low as possible so i wouldn't be shaken off literally.
The quake lasted about 3 minutes or maybe more, I don't really know. To me its just so damn long, every minute is like a year to me. As the earth shakes, I can hear the woods crying, and occasionally small pieces of stones fell on my back. I could only wish this to end ASAP and no big lump of soil or rock fell on me.
When the vibration was over, I could barely stand still due to the fear I experienced earlier on. I knew i need to get off the mountain path ASAP as there might be a land slide due the the earlier shake, which might loosen the soil.
As I rush down along the path, I slipped and twisted my left ankle. If i didn't grab the tree nearby I could just went down the valley. With an injured limb I couldn't go fast, yet I couldn't afford to slow down. Landslide and aftershock may arrive just next second, who knows.
It was a living hell at the bottom of Mountain QingCheng. The town of DuJiangYan was devastated by the earthquake. Most of the buildings couldn't stand against the impact and collapsed, some roads had cracks. Worst of all, few schools had collapsed in the middle of their lessons and buried hundreds of students. The city's hospital also collapsed during the earthquake. The telecommunication also went offline, no one could contact outside for external assistance. The most stunning scene I saw was the motel i stayed in also collapsed during the earthquake. If I decided to take a nap before I go hiking, I might be contributing to the death toll in the statistics.
Later in the day I evacuated to Chengdu with some others whom also obtained minor injuries during the earthquake. After a simple treatment in the hospital I got back to home.
That night was a sleepless night. My grandma is weak so she couldn't afford to stay outdoors, in any case of a strong aftershock we got to have carry her out from the house. I have got to stay on high alert.
I might gotten too psychotic due to the earthquake, I sense almost more than 100 pulses of rather aftershock, though not as strong as the first impact. Siren far cries from ambulance and other civil defence vehicles never stop through out the night. I knew lives been saved, and lives been taken away.Compared to those who lost their lives and their beloved ones, I only twisted my ankle and had few scratches on my arms and legs. I'm the lucky one though.
I finally fell asleep in the morning on 13th May. As I'm typing this note now I still sense aftershocks and the building dancing along with the vibration, and hear the sirens from far. It has been raining for the whole day, hope that the rescue work goes smoothly. And for those poor ones who still struggle in the ruins, remain a strong faith and will to survive.
Life is precious, treasure it.
I was glad to hear yesterday that he was ok.
12th May 2008 14:28 GMT +0800, an earthquake of magnitude 7.8 happened at Wenchuan, Szechuan province, China. Meanwhile I was hiking at Mount QingCheng, only 37 km away from epicenter.
It came so sudden, yet so silent. Szechuan never had such a strong earthquake in its history. The most recent strong earthquake it experienced was more than 30 years ago in 1976. Tangshan earthquake, where the epicenter was thousand miles away from the province. It had a such strong impact that even Szechuan felt it too. So no one expected that an earthquake would erupt in our backyard.
Its my annual routine to stay in Mount QingCheng every summer and go hiking everyday, for the experience and the scenery. Today, just like any other ordinary hiking days, i took lunch and went hiking as usual. Halfway through the trail, the earth start to shake 'gently'. My first thought was that the military bombardment squad stationed here was having some sort of practice. Right after this thought I realize that no loud sound was heard. And then, the earth start to vibrate violently.
'Oh crap! Will I be gone?' Thats the only thought in my mind.
Standing in the middle of the narrow path, on my left was solid n stiff cliff, on my right was the bottom of valley, few hundred meters down a rather stiff slope. I could hardly stand still as the earth under me was so unstable, and I could just slip down the valley if I run during the earthquake. I kneed down on the path, putting my forehead against the ground, trying to make my center of gravity as low as possible so i wouldn't be shaken off literally.
The quake lasted about 3 minutes or maybe more, I don't really know. To me its just so damn long, every minute is like a year to me. As the earth shakes, I can hear the woods crying, and occasionally small pieces of stones fell on my back. I could only wish this to end ASAP and no big lump of soil or rock fell on me.
When the vibration was over, I could barely stand still due to the fear I experienced earlier on. I knew i need to get off the mountain path ASAP as there might be a land slide due the the earlier shake, which might loosen the soil.
As I rush down along the path, I slipped and twisted my left ankle. If i didn't grab the tree nearby I could just went down the valley. With an injured limb I couldn't go fast, yet I couldn't afford to slow down. Landslide and aftershock may arrive just next second, who knows.
It was a living hell at the bottom of Mountain QingCheng. The town of DuJiangYan was devastated by the earthquake. Most of the buildings couldn't stand against the impact and collapsed, some roads had cracks. Worst of all, few schools had collapsed in the middle of their lessons and buried hundreds of students. The city's hospital also collapsed during the earthquake. The telecommunication also went offline, no one could contact outside for external assistance. The most stunning scene I saw was the motel i stayed in also collapsed during the earthquake. If I decided to take a nap before I go hiking, I might be contributing to the death toll in the statistics.
Later in the day I evacuated to Chengdu with some others whom also obtained minor injuries during the earthquake. After a simple treatment in the hospital I got back to home.
That night was a sleepless night. My grandma is weak so she couldn't afford to stay outdoors, in any case of a strong aftershock we got to have carry her out from the house. I have got to stay on high alert.
I might gotten too psychotic due to the earthquake, I sense almost more than 100 pulses of rather aftershock, though not as strong as the first impact. Siren far cries from ambulance and other civil defence vehicles never stop through out the night. I knew lives been saved, and lives been taken away.Compared to those who lost their lives and their beloved ones, I only twisted my ankle and had few scratches on my arms and legs. I'm the lucky one though.
I finally fell asleep in the morning on 13th May. As I'm typing this note now I still sense aftershocks and the building dancing along with the vibration, and hear the sirens from far. It has been raining for the whole day, hope that the rescue work goes smoothly. And for those poor ones who still struggle in the ruins, remain a strong faith and will to survive.
Life is precious, treasure it.
I was glad to hear yesterday that he was ok.