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The government's quick response to the catastrophe reflects the leadership is
able to deliver efficient disaster relief.
When a 7.8-magnitude deadly earthquake struck Southwest China Monday
afternoon, the government quickly signaled a message of concern and action, as
President Hu Ji
ntao called for an "all-out" effort to aid survivors. Just hours
after the quake, Premier Wen Jiabao flew to Sichuan to oversee rescue efforts.
Premier Wen Jiabao comforts an injured child in Mianyang, Sichuan Province on
Tuesday, May 13, 2008. Some 7,395 have been reported dead in Mianyang. [Xinhua]
Within 24 hours of the quake, some 20,000 troops converged on the disaster
area to help dig out survivors as military planes and trucks ferried in another
30,000 reinforcements.
However, the geographical condition in mountainous Sichuan Province is
unfavorable for rescue. An old saying gives an exaggeration, "Climbing the
mountains in Sichuan is as difficult as reaching the blue sky".
Facing the challenge of high mountains, blocked roads and heavy rainfall, the
General Staff of the PLA headquarters ordered some 600 People's Liberation Army
(PLA) troops to enter the epicenter Wenchuan county on foot late Tuesday in a
bid to intensify rescue efforts. The rescuers managed to hiked into the worst
hit area early Wednesday morning and pulled more than 1,000 survivors from
debris.
"Speed is absolutely critical in a situation like this. Their initial
response is very good," said Dr. Maurice Ramirez, a founding chair of the
American Board of Disaster Medicine.
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