On foot, bike, Chinese offer aid to quake survivors

By Ben Blanchard

MIANYANG, China (Reuters) - Chinese volunteers trooped into quake-hit areas on Wednesday on foot, bicycle and in their cars in an outpouring of generosity toward those left homeless and grieving by Monday's 7.9 magnitude earthquake.

At the edges of the worst-hit region, many who narrowly escaped disaster themselves descended on the Sichuan city of Mianyang, where about 10,000 survivors gathered at a sports ground seeking food and shelter.

"We just have to help," said one woman, dishing out rice porridge to anyone who asked from the back of her pedicab. "We live just around the corner from the stadium," she said.

Around the grounds, residents had left plastic bags and fertilizer sacks of donated clothes that survivors picked their way through.

"We feel very moved that people are looking after us and that so many have come here to support us," said Li Bowei, 34, from the nearby area of Beichuan.

The rural county has seen some of the worst devastation from Monday's quake that has killed nearly 15,000 people.

Pictures from Beichuan showed streets where not a single building stood. Survivors lay dazed on the ground next to the dead and army rescuers struggled to reach the mountainous area.

Authorities closed the road to Beichuan to inbound traffic to allow survivors to leave and many streamed toward Mianyang.

State radio broadcast appeals for people to give food, water, equipment, and blood, as well as appeals for people to be patient and wait for aid.

Taxi drivers also joined the rescue efforts.

"I dropped everything to get over to Dujiangyan," said driver Ran Ruimin, referring to the town about 50 km (30 miles) from the provincial capital Chengdu where some 900 students were buried in the rubble of their collapsed school.

"I took water up there and brought back survivors to the hospital (in Chengdu). The person I took to hospital was covered in blood," he said.

"PLEASE BE PATIENT"

But in case anyone forgets the government and ruling Communist Party's role in providing aid, state radio was quick to remind them and call on people yet to receive help to be patient.

"The people and the Party breathe as one to overcome the disaster," public service announcements said, backing by stirring patriotic music.