They worked all night in the darkness digging without rest. You can't save everyone. Maybe you can't save anyone. But if you can it means a second chance even if you can only save yourself.
Another day has passed and they're still struggling alone because no one knows where they are and time is running short. But to live is better than to die so you keep trying. Or you lie helpless and wait wherever you are.
:: Update at the end following the fold ::
The news was bad but exactly as expected. Areas of Sichuan, Jiangxi, Gansu and Yunnan provinces are leveled. Tens of thousands of people are buried under the rubble of thousands of collapsed buildings. Each hour new tragedies come to light. Most of the 900 children trapped in the Dujiangyan secondary school will not be saved despite heroic efforts. Now soldiers hold back the crowed of family members so rescue workers can continue to dig, but most of the children found have already died. Hope turns to sadness and outrage. One building on one street.
More than 50,000 soldiers and hundreds of thousands of civilians are fighting against time to save lives. As they do, countless people must still be alive in unknown locations.
Hope and the will to survive are what we humans have. Life is precious and at times like this that's all we need to keep going.
I want to sleep and leave you with one thought - if you can help someone wherever you are, do it. That's our higher purpose. Someone is waiting for you.
Peace.
:: Update ::
Thanks to everyone commenting with best wishes and information.
Overnight releif workers in Maoxian County made great progress clearing rubble to rescue townspeople and the road is open allowing more resources to be brought into the region. Now the soldiers are fanning out to surrounding villages and 30,000 more troups will arrive today. Medical attention for survivors is gaining pace.
They have far to go and much to do so work they must.
Prospects to save buried victims declines with time. We must be realistic and consider the possibility that few of the 18,000 missing people will be saved and casusalties could be as high as 30,000. Only one of 900 students of Dujiangyan secondary school was saved - these kids were the best and the brightest from villages around this area attending a magnet school to prepare them for University. Almost half the class was lost.
That means efforts should be redoubled and will be. Even when situations seem hopeless, people are found even weeks later. Miracles happen in the middle of the rubble.
Thanks again for your support and concern. This is a good community.