Chinese rescuers racing against time in quake-hit Ecuador

"The house shook for about 50 seconds. I felt swaying and rumbling," said Guan Chunguang, a 66-year-old engineer from a Chinese company in Ecuador speaking to Xinhua about what the tremor felt like when a powerful earthquake hit the South American country on April 16.

The 7.8-magnitude quake that rumbled through six coastal provinces caused the worst national catastrophe in 67 years, according to the government, killing over 650 people and injuring more than 5,000 in the nation of 16 million people.

When the local fire brigade could find no way to rescue those buried beneath the rubble due to a shortage of rescue equipment, a Chinese rescue team organized by the China CAMC Engineering Co. Ltd.(CAMC) arrived at the affected city of Portoviejo, some 30 km from the Pacific coast, 10 hours after the disaster occurred, bringing along 17 vehicles for excavation.

The Chinese rescue team, together with their local counterparts, was racing against time to save lives at the scene.

After around 40 minutes, CAMC staff pulled a little girl out of the rubble, 20 hours after the quake hit the country. They also saved a 27-year-old woman from the basement of a four-floor house on Alhajuela street and another survivor on Manabi street.

"Amigos (friends in Spanish) from China, you are good!" local residents at the scene hailed loudly.

"The three survivors are now out of danger after timely treatment. We have also found 47 victims," said Guan, who was hired back after retirement to take charge of the project at Portoviejo Hospital.

The hospital, which covers an area of 115,000 square meters and is equipped with 508 beds, provides the best medical facilities in Ecuador. Except for a few scars on the ceilings and walls, the hospital remains intact following the powerful earthquake and aftershocks.

"The hospital of a city can not collapse no matter how cruel the natural disaster is, because the hospital is the bottom line to protect lives," said Guan.

Said Victor, an Ecuadorian engineer of the project, said "this is the last project that my Chinese friend Guan has taken charge of. He will go back China when the project is finished. Although the hospital has not been completed, it has passed the test of acceptance in our hearts."

Source: XINHUA