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""Strong earthquake hits China, all ham radio operators stand by
PLEASE HELP
TO SPREAD THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE


Strong earthquake hits China, all ham radio operators stand by A
Magnitude
7.8 earthquake hits Sichuan, China on Monday, May 12, 2008 at 06:28:04
UTC.
Casualties and loss unknown up to now. According to Chinese Radio
Sports
Association, 14.270Mhz, 7.050 and 7.060 Mhz are preserved for amateur
radio
emergency service in the rescue. Please spread this message as far as
you
can and keep the frequencies clean for emergency use. Thank you.


--------------------
Yesterday, 05:57 PM
BG8AAS from Chengdu, Sichuan reported that local UHF repeater survived
in
the disaster. It keeps functioning from the 1st minute and more than
200
local radio hams are now on that repeater. A group of hams from
Chengdu has
headed for Wenchuan, the center of the quake, trying to setup
emergency
communication services there.


BA8AB, also from Chengdu, Sichuan, is active on the 40m emergency
frequency.
Up to now, no further information available from the center zone of
the
quake. There are a few radio amateurs there, but all of the
communications
have been cut out, including amateur radio.
-------------------------
Yesterday, 06:58 PM
Update


According to BG8AAS, local UHF repeater in Chengdu keeps busy running
after
the quake. It helps to direct social vehicles to transport the wounded
from
Dujiangyan, Beichuan, and other regions. Another UHF repeater also
starts
its working in Mianyan, supported by generators.
However, they are going to face a shortage of gas.


Damage in Chengdu remains in the lowest level, but the situation is
very
very bad in the counties around. A few towns are said to be destroyed
completely. More than 7000 died in the town of Beichuan. Casualties
in
several other towns are still unknown and not counted in the
published
numbers.


It is a long and sad day.
-----------------------
Today, 08:31 AM
Your attention please! 14.270Mhz is now reserved for ARES in 5.12
earth
quake in Sichuan, China. Please help to keep this frequency clear.


A group of radio amateurs is now transmitting from Wenchuan, the
center of
quake. Its signal is reported to be very weak. They tried to keep
communication with BY8AA in Chengdu, seeking for all resources
needed.
During a contact finished a few minutes ago, they were asking for
raincoats,
water, tents, and outdoor living facilities.


PLEASE HELP TO FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO ALL RELEVANT FORUMS, MAILING
LISTS,
AND NEWS RESOURCES. MEANWHILE, KEEP THE ABOVE FREQUENCY CLEAN FOR
EMERGENCY
COMMUNICATION.


Michael Chen, BD5RV/4""