In spite of all our differences, the one thing that binds all living creatures is that we each have an expiration date. This finality to our existence is what makes life special, something to be cherished and protected. But occasionally things can go terribly wrong…
A massive earthquake struck central China, killing more than 50,000 people and burying alive another 20,000. Government officials issued a rare public appeal for rescue workers and equipment following the quake, which registered 7.9 on the Richter scale.
In spite of all the death and destruction, there were stories of survival that kept hope alive. In the devastated town of Dujiangyan, an all-night search through debris saved a 62-year-old man trapped under his collapsed house. Rescuers and bystanders cheered and took photos with their cell phones as the man was extracted from the rubble. Nearby a 22-year-old woman was pulled to safety after being buried for three long nights. Her rescue was broadcast and cheered on state television. "I was confident that you were coming to rescue me. I’m alive. I’m so happy," the unnamed woman said.
But by Thursday, officials started shifting from search-and-rescue to body recovery.
