CHINA EARTHQUAKE UPDATE - DEATH TOLL REACHES 32,000 EXPECTED TO EXCEED 50,000

On Tuesday, May 14, 2008, U.S. Ambassador to China Clark T. Randt, Jr., presented a check for $500,000 to the Red Cross to assist China's relief efforts in areas affected by the earthquake in Sichuan Province. The funds are from the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, the U.S. Agency for International Development. Accepting on behalf of the Red Cross Society of China was Ms. Su Juxiang, Vice Chairperson of the Red Cross Society of China. Accepting on behalf of the International Federation of the Red Cross was Mr. Carl Naucler, Managing Director for East Asia.

China has launched a probe into the high number of schools which collapsed in Monday's earthquake when many other buildings remained standing.
"I am very saddened by the deaths of students," Jiang Weixin, Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Construction, told reporters at news conference carried live on state television.

He conceded that corner-cutting may have played a part.

"If investigations show that is the case, it must be dealt with seriously. At this stage we also cannot rule out the possibility that there may have been shoddy work and inferior materials during the construction of some school buildings," Jiang said.

Broadway To Vegas correspondent Michael Ashleman was caught in the earthquake. His updated E-mails include:

WEDNESDAY - FROM MICHAEL

Earthquake aftermath Dujiangyan, China. Photo by Jenny

Food and water here, have about a week's worth at this time. Parents of the children who went home to Chengdu brought back food and water for those left behind.

US Consulate checking up by E-mail. I reported to them that one person who had what was first thought to be a minor medical problem was determined to be more serious. The Consulate had the local authority come and check that he was okay. He is now responding to medicine they gave him.

Many large aftershocks are felt here. At first we thought the multi-story building was untouched, but now realize it may not be habitable again. We run in to get supplies and get out. The main teaching building has leaks it did not have before.

At a standing tilt Dujuangyan, China. Photo by Jenny

Moral is good, though the kids want to know if they still are taking a test as scheduled.... all exams are postponed at this point.

Waiting and hoping for the best. Though life is okay here.

A few kilometers away in Dujiangyan life is not good.

Massive destruction, and many buildings that look good are damaged beyond safe usage. The military arrived and have acquired the use of a lot of heavy earth moving equipment from Chengdu. Caterpillar company, or a company that uses a lot of cats and has CAT on all of their stuff, arrived with 20 large front loaders and small self drive cranes.

About 300 additional people in buses from Chengdu have come to help. The Chinese Red Cross is at the main road into town, they have about 50 to 100 people there.

Government people came by the school and took pictures of all the foreigners eating food. (NOTE: Authorities indicates this is to show that the Chinese are making sure foreigners are not mistreated)

The government has been out a few times to check on the school since we have about 50 to 100 still here. These children are better off here than in town. Officials are trying to keep everyone calm.

Earthquake - Not a war zone Photo by Jenny

China Army mobilizes. Photo by Jenny

People are getting worried that disease problems will occur with water problems. We are all on bottled water. We have about a weeks worth on site now. The school is serving basic foods.

A run to Metro (METRO was the first joint venture to gain permission from the China Central Government to set up chain stores in all major cities in China. The stores are self-service wholesale: customers pick their own orders, pay in cash and take away the goods themselves.) was made before the government came in and we bought up what was left in the store for our disaster relief.

While I was checking out, a little bit of panic was at Metro when it was announced that a chemical plant making NH3 products leaked into the water supply. If that is true than Chengdu has a water problem. So, there was panic buying. The road, rail, boats and I assume plane transport into Chengdu are just fine. There is no supply problem except the artificially created one from panic.

I get electrical power for an hour or so 2 times a day. We have on-site generator powered by diesel. Getting the fuel is the reason for the rationing here. If we were able to have continuous electric power we would be able to have well water, because enough of the dirt in the water would be filtered and flushed from the system - then boiling would make most of it safe enough. But with the panic about supplies, that will be awhile.

THURSDAY - FROM JENNY

Bank of China building. Dujuangyan, China. Photo by Jenny

I went to the town (Dujiangyan) today. It is so sad. On some the entire building just fell down.They have one hospital and it's gone.The Bank of China has half of its building gone. There is a restaurant we liked and we enjoyed going there often, but it is gone.

When I went there, I can smell the scent - not only the trash but dead bodies. I saw the searchers get one body out from the wreckage. A man with one arm lost, and the head was almost falling down. He had no face, a big hole on his head. Everywhere there is blood.

THURSDAY - FROM MICHAEL
Going to Chengdu Sunday for a week to administer tests to the children who went back there. Then school is out early the for summer. I am homeless on the 27th of May. So I have to get my stuff to the new school during one of the biggest evacuations that this part of China has seen in 30 plus years. Things are a little tense around here.

It is starting to smell around town because the sun came out and the unrecovered dead are decaying. Water will soon be bad. Mosquitoes are a problem in this area.

Damaged Police Department. Many business signs are both in English and Mandarin. Dujuangyan, China. Photo by Jenny

Contents of store are in the street. Dujuangyan, China. Photo by Jenny

FRIDAY MORNING - FROM MICHAEL
Everything is fine.... moving stuff to a safer ground location... prediction that another big shock coming, so saving what I can. Trying to get my staff housed, that is a problem because of limited housing right now.

FRIDAY EVENING - FROM MICHAEL
We are having 10 or more aftershocks a day. Any one of which can bring the rest of the buildings down. Another teacher, Philip Greening-Jackson - he is from England - and I had to push one chimney over after last aftershock as it gave way and was half stuck and dangerous.

The conditions are getting very bad. I just do not like being in the apartment more than a few moments to get stuff out. Trying to rescue it all, including teaching supplies. 70% done. Out of boxes and packing tape so on the rest I may have to take the chance that the building will be there after I spend a week in Chengdu giving exams.

One of the numerous tent cities in Dujiangyan, China. Photo by Jenny

SATURDAY MORNING - FROM JENNY

Tomorrow we will go to Chengdu. I think we should be OK and safe there.

I heard from Mike that all the IB will move to Chengdu, in a collage, because the building here is dangerous for teaching.

It is so bad here, like hell.

Last Sunday night I saw the move named "The Day After Tomorrow." I told Mike, that's a movie that will not happen to me. But on Monday we had this terrible earthquake.

We can move to another city, but how about the families which lost family? They can't go anywhere. And so many young lives were gone. How many families will be staying in the tents? And, how long a time before they start to feel better? I feel so bad for them, and I can't do anything. The only one thing I can do is hope the God can help them.