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China landslide: Stories of survival in Shenzhen | China landslide: Stories of survival in Shenzhen |
(about 17 hours later) | |
More than 70 people remain missing in the deadly Shenzhen landslide that took place in China on Sunday while more than 900 were evacuated. A number of survivors have related accounts of their brushes with death to local media. These are some of their stories. | |
The bosses who saved the lives of 115 workers | The bosses who saved the lives of 115 workers |
Factory boss Huang Yongqing was in downtown Shenzhen on Sunday morning when he received a panicky phone call. | Factory boss Huang Yongqing was in downtown Shenzhen on Sunday morning when he received a panicky phone call. |
It was from a manager describing intense tremors at their plant in the Guangming New District. | It was from a manager describing intense tremors at their plant in the Guangming New District. |
"The moment I got the call, all I said was one word: "Evacuate!'," he told Shenzhen newspaper Jingbao. | "The moment I got the call, all I said was one word: "Evacuate!'," he told Shenzhen newspaper Jingbao. |
Ten minutes later, the landslide's immense wave of soil had reached their plant, Shenzhen Ouleideng Technology, crushing some of their walls. | Ten minutes later, the landslide's immense wave of soil had reached their plant, Shenzhen Ouleideng Technology, crushing some of their walls. |
By that time all 115 employees at work that day had fled, Mr Huang said. | By that time all 115 employees at work that day had fled, Mr Huang said. |
Administrative manager Yan Limin took charge of the evacuation, organising the workers and doing a headcount before leading them to safety. | Administrative manager Yan Limin took charge of the evacuation, organising the workers and doing a headcount before leading them to safety. |
She told Guangzhou-based Xinxi Daily newspaper: "The building started shaking very severely, I could hear a blast coming from below, we all thought it was an earthquake." | She told Guangzhou-based Xinxi Daily newspaper: "The building started shaking very severely, I could hear a blast coming from below, we all thought it was an earthquake." |
'An unstoppable tide' | 'An unstoppable tide' |
Worker Xia Shaohua was heading towards his dormitory, where his family also lived, when he heard loud rumbles akin to "car engines starting up", reported Beijing News. | Worker Xia Shaohua was heading towards his dormitory, where his family also lived, when he heard loud rumbles akin to "car engines starting up", reported Beijing News. |
He noticed that soil was starting to tumble from the peak of a hill a few hundred metres away, producing a thick cloud of grey dust, "like smoke rising from a chimney". | He noticed that soil was starting to tumble from the peak of a hill a few hundred metres away, producing a thick cloud of grey dust, "like smoke rising from a chimney". |
The 50-year-old, who used to live in a mountainous region, sensed something was wrong and immediately called his son, telling him: "There's going to be a landslide, run away quickly." | The 50-year-old, who used to live in a mountainous region, sensed something was wrong and immediately called his son, telling him: "There's going to be a landslide, run away quickly." |
He told Beijing News that by this time the soil was an unstoppable tide, rolling down the hill "like the waters of the Yellow River". | He told Beijing News that by this time the soil was an unstoppable tide, rolling down the hill "like the waters of the Yellow River". |
Minutes later the landslide occurred, sending plumes of earth shooting in the air, and burying the buildings below. | Minutes later the landslide occurred, sending plumes of earth shooting in the air, and burying the buildings below. |
But his phone call saved his family, including his son, daughter-in-law and grandchild. | But his phone call saved his family, including his son, daughter-in-law and grandchild. |
The man searching for 16 relatives and friends | The man searching for 16 relatives and friends |
Another survivor who was not so lucky was He Weiming, who ran a rubbish sorting and recycling company out of his home. | Another survivor who was not so lucky was He Weiming, who ran a rubbish sorting and recycling company out of his home. |
The 36-year-old and his younger brother are now looking for their missing relatives, including their parents, wives and children, their younger sister and her family, and five colleagues. | The 36-year-old and his younger brother are now looking for their missing relatives, including their parents, wives and children, their younger sister and her family, and five colleagues. |
Early on Sunday morning, the two brothers had headed out from their house, which was located about a kilometre from the large mound of earth and construction debris. | Early on Sunday morning, the two brothers had headed out from their house, which was located about a kilometre from the large mound of earth and construction debris. |
"We drove out to collect rubbish at 07:40, and everything was fine at home. Then we returned at 11:40 and our house was buried in mud. It was a four-metre high metal structure but we couldn't even see the roof," Mr He told the Global Times. | "We drove out to collect rubbish at 07:40, and everything was fine at home. Then we returned at 11:40 and our house was buried in mud. It was a four-metre high metal structure but we couldn't even see the roof," Mr He told the Global Times. |
"I've made more than 40 phone calls. Not a single one got through. At first it was because nobody picked up, now the phones appear to have been switched off," he said. | "I've made more than 40 phone calls. Not a single one got through. At first it was because nobody picked up, now the phones appear to have been switched off," he said. |
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