[May 13, 2008] Four people get a mission impossible

Hu Tao's work diary •Afternoon, May 12, 2008 •Evening, May 12, 2008 •May 13, 2008 ?Morning, May 14, 2008 •Afternoon, May 14, 2008 •May 15, 2008 ?May 16, 2008 •May 17, 2008 ?May 18, 2008 ?Postscript

5:00 AM, day break, still raining. 

At 7:00 AM, Secretary Wang allocated new work. Nanyue Village was in a state of emergency. Food as well as three barrels of drinking water collected from little shops was immediately sent there. 

The river water has turned yellowish green and is no longer drinkable. We have to conserve water and collect rainwater. 

A group of four people led by Tian Dehu was sent again to tramp over the mountains and try to reach the city government. Before they left, I gave a cigarette to each person to acknowledge their risky task. 

I finally found a radio. News came over the radio waves that the epicenter was at Yingxiu, just on the other side of the mountain, very near to Longchi. The radio broadcast the news continually that Premier Wen Jiabao had left for disaster areas by helicopter only two hours after the earthquake struck; he made important speeches. 

I quickly reported the situation to town leaders, and conveyed this news to the masses. Everyone was greatly encouraged. 

Landslides had been going on since the earthquake struck and crashing sounds were heard throughout the valley. 

At 9:35 AM, Mr. Hu, a member of the local committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), returned from a patrolling tour and said that some parts of the Nanyue Village were still collapsing. Roads were blocked, preventing us from finding out anything about the situation. 

At 10:40 AM, two helicopters were seen in the sky. We knew that both the city and the province were concerned about us. 

At 12:00 AM, the new death toll was reported: 2 from Team 7, 12 from Team 6 and 8 from Team 4 in Nanyue Village; 2 from Team 1 and Team 2 in Dongyue Village; 2 unidentified people in the scenic spot; and 2 others were missing.