Eight more people were rescued on Wednesday, 17 days after the earthquake. These lucky survivors had been trapped in a mountain area in Qingping village in Mianzhu city.
The incredible rescue was made by the South China Sea Fleet sent by the Ministry of Transport.
The incredible rescue was made by the South China Sea Fleet sent by the Ministry of Transport. It could not have happened without the dedication of the rescuers.
The rescue team received its commission last Friday: it must save 8 people, all staff of a construction company in Mianzhu. They had been trapped by rising water, triggered by the quake, in Pingshui River. The survivors had depended on airdropped food for survival these days.
Due to bad weather, no flight could be made in the region until Monday. But the rescuers failed to locate the survivors during their first landing at the site on Monday.
On Tuesday they made a second attempt.
And this time they succeeded.
Captain Li Jia of South China Fleet Rescue Group, said, "We're not supposed to fly in such condition. To save people's lives, we broke the rule this time."
So far, 4 helicopters from the Ministry of Transport have conducted 28 rescue missions in the quake zone. They have saved 153 people altogether.
(CCTV May 29, 2008)