As the sky grew brighter, the intervals between aftershocks became longer and longer.
When raindrops started falling from the sky and became heavier, Yao Jingtian, director of the National Earthquake Bureau in Jingzhou, knew that this disaster was basically over.
At this moment, he felt a sense of relief in his heart, and at the same time he was full of gratitude to the person who wrote the anonymous letter. If his suggestion had been adopted by the central government, then he and the entire Earthquake Bureau would become sinners of the country.
It was precisely because of that letter that they had the opportunity to redeem themselves when the earthquake occurred.
After the earthquake, the whole world seemed to have fallen into silence, with only the occasional groans of the injured and the shaking of aftershocks.
Although the resettlement site was relatively safe due to the early preparations, some people were injured.
Medical staff quickly started treatment and tried their best to save every life under the simple conditions.
Without modern medical equipment, they can only rely on their experience and respect for life to bandage the wounded, stop bleeding and fix fractures.
Those who refused to evacuate in and around Guzhu City paid a very painful price for their stubbornness and ignorance.
The ruins are filled with broken buildings and buried lives.
Dust filled the air, making it difficult to breathe. Every breath could smell the pungent smell of dust and death.
Under the leadership of the quick reaction force, public security, fire and medical rescue personnel quickly rushed to these places to carry out search and rescue, while those large vehicles moved very slowly due to fallen trees, falling rocks and destroyed roadbeds.
However, because Xu Jianguo had given special instructions when Xu Fei made the donation, many of the blocked large vehicles could be used for towing. With the help of excavators and cranes, boulders and fallen trees were cleared to the roadside bit by bit, and a green channel was slowly being opened.
The soldiers and rescue workers who first arrived at the disaster area moved bricks and stones by hand and searched for the trapped people.
Their hands were worn out, but they still didn't stop.
Whenever a survivor is found, there is cheering at the rescue site, but more often it is because of the grief when the bodies of the victims are found.
The death toll continued to rise. According to statistics from the street office and neighborhood committee, there were about two to three hundred people in the entire Guzhu City who did not evacuate, and the vast majority of them were those who refused to listen to advice and insisted on staying.
Their stubbornness ultimately cost them a heavy price and brought endless pain to their families and society.
Although the earth stopped shaking, the disaster seemed not to be over yet. While people were busy searching and rescuing the wounded, the rain in the sky was getting heavier and heavier.
The rain mercilessly washed over the devastated land, bringing greater difficulties to the rescue work.
The rescuers worked hard in the rain, which blurred their vision, but their determination did not waver in the slightest. Their figures appeared so firm in the rain, like a beacon in the darkness, bringing hope to the survivors.
As the situation gradually stabilized, the men and women in the hundreds of resettlement sites around Guzhu City, led by some people, began to move and headed towards their long-destroyed homes.
In addition to the people who went to the disaster area to help with rescue efforts, some people also served as assistants to the medical staff in the resettlement sites. Women also put their children aside and spontaneously prepared hot soup and food for the rescue workers, which were then delivered to the disaster area by special personnel.
Although these hot soups and food were simple, they warmed the hearts of everyone involved in the rescue.
The children stopped crying and watched the adults' actions with innocent eyes, as if they understood the power of unity at this moment and the seeds of hope were planted in their young hearts.
At this time, in the temporary command center of the red-walled West Hall compound in Jingzhou.
A group of central leaders are having a heated discussion on the reconstruction of the disaster area.
In this special historical period, every decision made by the bigwigs needs to take into account the overall development of the country and the long-term interests of the people.
A small number of people believe that the city should be cleaned up and rebuilt on the basis of the ruins of the old city of Guzhu. After all, although the buildings here have been destroyed, many infrastructures have been preserved intact. The advantage of doing so is that it can effectively save resources.
In addition, they believe that the history of Guzhu City can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty. It has a long history and cultural heritage, and it also carries the memories of countless people and cannot be easily given up.
But another group of people suggested that the damage to the old city was too severe, the cost of cleaning it up and rebuilding it was too high, and the geological structure might have become unstable, so they suggested choosing another site to build a new city.
Both sides held their own opinions and argued endlessly, but despite this, the bosses did not lose face. No matter from which perspective, the suggestions they put forward were all considering the future of the people of Guzhu City.
Finally, after all the bigwigs had expressed their opinions, the voting process began.
After voting, the central government's final opinion was to abandon the old city of Guzhu City and choose a suitable place to build a new city to start a new chapter.
Although this decision is difficult, it is made to better protect people's lives and the long-term development of the country.
After the bigwigs made the decision, they began to study the future living problems of the people in the disaster area.
After all, it is already the end of July and August is about to begin. There are only more than four months left before the arrival of winter.
Therefore, during the period of reconstruction of the new city, how to ensure that the people can spend the winter safely is the most important issue at the moment.
Although the winter in Guzhu City is not as cold as that in Northeast China, the lowest temperature can reach minus ten degrees Celsius or even twenty degrees Celsius. It is definitely not possible to let the people continue to live in tents.
In addition to housing, many other issues need to be considered, such as bedding, clothing, food and heating to keep warm.
At this time, a big boss mentioned Longyao Group, which made everyone think of the color steel houses that could be seen everywhere in the resettlement site.
"What do you think about the government contacting Longyao Group and asking them to help procure a batch of prefabricated steel houses? These are lightweight and durable, offering warmth and wind resistance, making them much more practical than tents. Most importantly, they're incredibly easy to set up and dismantle, meeting the needs of ordinary people in a short period of time."
"I think this is a good idea, but I don't know how much a prefabricated steel house would cost. It's a considerable expense!"
"The money problem is easy to solve. The Jizhou Provincial Government and Guzhu Municipal Government will contribute part, and the national treasury will contribute another part. If that's still not enough, we can just hold a national fundraising event! I just don't know if Longyao Group can get millions of prefabricated steel houses in such a short time!"
"Let's not put all the burden on the shoulders of Longyao Group. We can also ask the Huo family in Hong Kong Island and the Guo family in Nanyang!"
"Ah, that's the only way!"
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