Survivor found 131 hours after building crash
Five people have died and possibly dozens are still missing, China state media reports
Rescuers in central China have pulled a woman alive from the rubble of a building that partially collapsed almost six days earlier, state media reported yesterday.
The unidentified woman is the 10th survivor of the disaster in the city of Changsha, in which at least five people have died and an unknown number, possibly dozens, are still missing.
She was rescued shortly after midnight yesterday, about 132 hours after the rear of the sixstory building suddenly caved in on April 29, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.
The woman was conscious and advised rescuers on how
to pull her out without causing further injury. Teams had used dogs and hand tools as well as drones and electronic life detectors in the search.
All the survivors were reportedly in good condition after being treated in a hospital. Intermittent rain showers in recent days may have increased their chances of survival without food or water.
In an account of Monday’s rescue of the eighth survivor pulled out, state media said rescuers faced an unstable pile of rubble that they had to work around rather than demolish. Before the rescue, they were able to feed in video equipment to communicate with the girl and establish that one of her legs was trapped.
Nine people arrested
Before retreating to draw up a strategy, they fed in saline solution for her to drink, to which she responded, “Don’t worry big brother, I know you’ll be back for me right away,” the reports said.
At least nine people have been arrested in relation to the collapse of what Xinhua has described as a “self-built building”, including its owner, on suspicion of ignoring building codes or committing other violations.