The devastating 7.9 Richter-scale-magnitude earthquake struck Sichuan Province last week, with the epicentre at Beichuan.
The death toll mounted rapidly to the current 30,000 and a projected 50,000 bodies by the time the concerted search and rescue efforts wind down, while nearly 5 million people have already lost their homes so far.
Help came to China from home and abroad, and in cash or in kind. The Chinese military and police spearheaded the home front rescue efforts, the North Koreans donated cash, the United States provided free satellite photographs, and numerous other bodies, nations, and individuals have contributed their resources and abilities/manpower.
Now, the latest threat seems to be flooding from a suspected damaged dam as the water level rises steadily in the surrounding land.
The possible death toll is unknown just now but the potential for more destruction and loss of lives is still very great.
Out of this chaos, sadness, and disaster came an insight into the technologies at work or employed in such rescue efforts, namely, sniffer dogs, fibre-optic cameras, and heat sensors.
Sniffer dogs easily identify and pinpoint faint sounds that humans cannot observe. Fibre-optic cameras can be passed through small cracks or holes to see what lies at the other end of a wall or below a pile of debris.
Heat sensors show where there is a sign of life or a potential danger to rescuers, face masks are needed within the quake zone for odor protection from days-old decomposing bodies and other remains and damaged/exposed waste systems.
Similarly, the disinfectant compositions are needed to counter the public health effects of the decomposing remains and exposed waste.
A record of the deadliest quakes on planet Earth since about 856 AD in Iran, where up to 200,000 fatalities occurred, have been recorded here.
This is the list of major earthquakes in China between July 1976 and May 12, 2008.For further reading:
President Bush Extends Condolences to Victims of Earthquakes in China
Chinese Officials Focus on Looming Shortages
UPDATE - Sunday, May 25, 2008 @ 1:00 AM:
Stumble It!
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