China.org.cn spoke by telephone Thursday morning to the information chief of the Xi'an Branch of Shaanxi Fire Department, to ask about the progress of rescue work in Beichuan County, 160 kilometers northeast of the earthquake epicenter, Wenchuan County in Sichuan Province.
China.org.cn: Can you tell me where you are right now?
Wang Xiaoke: I'm standing next to Qushan Primary School, in the center of Beichuan County, directing the rescue work.
China.org.cn: How many people have your team rescued so far?
Wang Xiaoke: A total of 10 between yesterday (May 14) and today. All of them are out of danger.
China.org.cn: How many of the trapped people do you think you can rescue? And how long does it take to rescue each person?
Wang Xiaoke: 90 percent of them can be pulled out. On average it takes us one to two hours to rescue one person.
The situation at the site is very serious. All the buildings have collapsed, and the teachers and students are buried deep underneath the rubble. The floor slabs and stones are mixed together and the structures are very precarious, making it difficult to remove even the smallest piece of rubble.
We are using hydraulic air cushions and cushioning devices, and are making every effort to ensure their safety. We don't have our own rescue dogs, so we are working with a team from Zhejiang Province. Their dogs locate the trapped people and we try to rescue them.
China.org.cn: There are frequent aftershocks. Are you concerned for the safety of the rescuers?
Wang Xiaoke: There is an aftershock every one or two hours; it complicates the situation, but so far none of us have been injured.
(China.org.cn by Zhou Jing, May 15, 2008)