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Rebuilding takes center stage

By Hu Yinan and Zhang Haizhou (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-06-18 08:46

A medical team in Yingxiu checks on quake victims on June 12. [Xinhua]

"But if any bodies are discovered, we will be responsible for treating them," he added.

Liu's mission yesterday alone was to deal with six bodies that were found beneath a landslide 5 km to the north of Yingxiu.

Together with 20 "Iron Army" soldiers, Liu trekked to the west bank of the Minjiang River that runs through the town. The troops took a boat to the east bank where the bodies were found.

Donning white, anti-infection coats, Liu's team arrived at the site at about 11 pm. Apart from six intact bodies, the soldiers found only the bones of six people.

Liu and his colleagues sterilized the bones and placed them in bags before burying the remains.

The soldiers who took part in the recovery mission were also disinfected. Standing in a row on the east bank of the Minjiang, a soldier sprayed disinfectant onto the hands and feet of the troops. They shed their white attire and burned those immediately. The site was finally cordoned off from the public.

Dealing with such daunting work for the past weeks, Liu has found it necessary to take his mind off the disaster.

"My wife told me she was pregnant earlier this month," he said.

"I am so happy, to be a father for the first time."

His surrounding colleagues were all smiles for the father-to-be.

"I was able to contact my wife, who is in Luoyang, Henan province, only once a week at the most before communication was cut off totally after I arrived here," Liu said.

"But now, I am able to call her every day. I am prepared to be stationed here for the long term, for reconstruction."

The damaged communications network was a major problem for Liu and quake victims. Most quake victims evacuated Yingxiu on foot to Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan, as they felt that the risks were a better option to hunger and waiting for death in the isolated town.

Things got much better when roads were gradually repaired and reopened. With food and other supplies being sent into Yingxiu, many residents have decided to stay on in their hometown.

Setting up tents and temporary housing has become a daily task for Liu's "Iron Army".

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