On the evening of May 14, reporters from China.org.cn arrived at Hanwang Town, Mianzhu City, about 30 kilometers away from the earthquake epicenter Wenchuan in Sichuan Province.
Power is still cut off in Hanwang. Troops are using generators to provide emergency lighting for the rescue effort. The National Energy Board, the State Grid and local electricity departments are working to install a 150 KW diesel generator to provide backup power. Simultaneously, emergency work teams are at the Oriental Steam Turbine Factory attempting to restore the regular power supply.
Because of the disastrous situation in Hanwang Town, rescue troops rushed here and arrived on the evening of May 12. However, the power failure and continuous rainstorms initially hampered the rescue effort. It was only when fine weather returned on May 14 that large-scale operations could get under way. Now around a dozen large mechanical diggers are working flat out.
Of the 60 or so high-rise buildings in the town almost none has escaped undamaged. Local government staff were at work when the earthquake struck and, apart from a few who managed to scramble to safety, all are now buried under the ruins of their office waiting to be rescued. Many private houses were destroyed and local people are spending the nights in tents provided by the army.
(China.org.cn translated by Wang Wei, May 15, 2008)