Their mission is urgent: survival rates for those trapped beneath rubble decrease significantly after the first 48 hours. “Every second counts,” said Dr. Li Wei, a disaster relief coordinator in Yunnan province. “We are focusing on reaching as many people as possible before it is too late.”
Rescue efforts face enormous challenges. Roads are cracked or blocked, bridges are unstable, and continuing aftershocks make the work dangerous. Yet, stories of resilience are emerging: in one case, a child was pulled alive from beneath the remains of a collapsed school, giving hope to anxious families awaiting word about missing relatives.
