The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake: a history that cannot be forgotten
Wenchuan, a once peaceful and picturesque county, was completely changed by a sudden earthquake at 14:28 on May 12, 2008. At that moment, the earth shook, and countless lives disappeared into the ruins. Now, more than a decade later, we can still feel the shock and pain caused by that earthquake. Today, let's look back at that history and explore the story behind this earthquake.
The Wenchuan earthquake, also known as the 5.12 Wenchuan earthquake, has a magnitude of 8.0, with a wide range of effects and a large number of people, ranking the highest in the history of earthquakes in China. The earthquake not only brought devastating damage to Wenchuan, but also affected Sichuan, Gansu, Shaanxi and other provinces, causing hundreds of thousands of casualties.
Shi Peijun, deputy director of the Wenchuan Earthquake Expert Committee and executive vice president of Beijing Normal University, said sadly at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office that the Wenchuan earthquake caused direct economic losses of 845.14 billion yuan, of which Sichuan accounted for 91.3 percent of the total losses, Gansu accounted for 5.8 percent, and Shaanxi accounted for 2.9 percent. There is little hope for the survival of the missing, and the indirect losses are innumerable.
In this earthquake, countless lives were lost in the rubble and countless families were torn apart. In the face of disasters, we have witnessed the fragility of life, but also the brilliance of humanity. Countless officers and soldiers of the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police, medical personnel and volunteers have stepped forward to race against time and relay for life. With sweat and tears, they wrote heroic hymns that moved the world.
After the Wenchuan earthquake, people across the country extended a helping hand to provide material support and spiritual condolences to the people in the disaster area. All sectors of society are working together to fight the disaster. Volunteers from all over the country rushed to the disaster area to fight side by side with the local people to overcome the difficulties. Among them are elderly people who are over half a hundred years old, young people who have not yet shed their childishness, and ordinary people from all walks of life. It is the rise of these ordinary heroes that has gathered into a powerful force to defeat the disaster.
In this disaster, we have witnessed the fragility of life, but also the tenacity of life. Beneath the ruins, there are many touching stories. Some people use their songs to strengthen their companions, some people use their hands to tear open the rubble to save lives, and some people choose to leave the hope of life to others in the moment of life and death...... These stories make us feel the tenacity and greatness of life.
Of course, we have also seen the enormous damage to the environment and ecology caused by disasters. The earthquake triggered secondary disasters such as mudslides and landslides, causing serious damage to the local ecological environment. Populations of many rare plants and animals have plummeted and are even on the verge of extinction. This also reminds us that when dealing with natural disasters, we must pay attention to the protection and restoration of the ecological environment.
Looking back on the more than ten years since the Wenchuan earthquake, we must not only mourn the lives lost, but also remember those touching heroic deeds. We must inherit and carry forward the spirit of earthquake relief, cherish the present, and care for life. At the same time, we should also pay attention to the protection and sustainable development of the ecological environment. Only in this way can we truly resist the invasion of natural disasters and build a better home together.
In the days to come, let us work together to create a better and harmonious society!