The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-05-14

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Fighting against Time

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: Reuters, BBC, ÁNA-ÌPA

Rescue teams in China are encountering problems in accessing tens of thousands of trapped people under the rubble after Mondays 7.9-magnitude quake, due the destruction of the road network and the continuous rainfalls. About 100,000 soldiers and police officers have been deployed in the quake-stricken areas, while teams of parachutists are arriving in the least accessible areas. Thousands of building and slopes have collapsed and motorways destroyed. As per the latest official estimates, over 12,000 people have been killed, while the number of victims is expected to rise.

Giant Rescue Operation

Indicative of the destruction is that in the in the town of Yingxiu, in Wenchuan with a total population of 10,000, 7,700 people have been killed and only 2,300 survived, 1,000 of which are injured.

In an attempt to accelerate rescue operations, the government has developed an additional 30,000 soldiers in the devastated areas. Thus, 54,000 soldiers are helping in the rescue efforts. Helicopters will drop aid to the victims as yesterdays poor weather prevented them from doing so.

Today, a team of 100 soldiers fell with parachutes in a non-accessible area of south-western China north of Wenchuan, where the epicentre of the quake had been located.

The prime minister announced that 100,000 soldiers and policemen are taking part in the rescue operations, appearing dissatisfied over the pace aid is provided to the victims. Meanwhile, reports said that 3,000 people have been killed in Mianzhu. About 500 people have been retrieved from the rubble, while 20,000 more are estimated to be expecting help.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Meteorological Service has forecast the continuation of rainfalls in the coming days, a development that would encourage more landslides in that area.

International Aid

Beijing has welcomed aid from the USA, the EU, Japan the UN and the IOC, adding however that it is not the right time for foreign rescue teams to arrive in China as the road network had sustained immense damage.

The Olympic Games Organising Committee of Beijing has announced that several events related to the Olympic Torch will be postponed, while a one-minute silence will be observed today for the victims of the quake.

The earthquake is considered the worst to hit China since 1976, when 242,000-300,000 people were killed and Tangshan was leveled.

Translated by John Crystallidis

Read the story on other sources:

BBC: Struggle to reach quake trapped

[02] At Least 8 People Dead

14 May 2008 09:19:00

Sources: ANA, MNA

Police officers and eye witnesses reported that 8 people at least died and many injured when two trains collided in Brahmmanbaria district, 50 miles east of the capital, Dhaka. Both trains one heading for the northeastern city of Sylhet and the other toward the eastern town of Noakhali, left Dhakas Kamlapur Railway Station late Tuesday. A combined six coaches from both trains were badly damaged by the collision. "Up to this moment 8 bodies have been found while 100 people are injured", a local police officer said. Police officers, firemen and rescue crews have arrived at the place of the accident trying to smooth the rescue efforts.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[03] Focus on Article 16

Sources: ÍÅÔ-ÍÅÔ 105.8

At the debate on the Revision of the Constitution at Parliament Tuesday, the parties focused on Article 16 on the founding of non-public and non-profitable universities. Education Minister Evripidis Stylianidis and LAOS (Popular Orthodox Rally) party supported the revision of the article, while KKE (Communists) and SYRIZA (Coalition of the Radical Left) favoured the upgrading of public universities, opposing the founding of private ones. PASOK (Panhellenic Socialist Movement) is not taking part in the debate. Mr Stylianidis revealed in his speech in June 1996 that when George Papandreou was Education Minister, he passed a law, co-signed by Evangelos Venizelos, then Justice Minister that foresees the founding of a University of Greek Studies of private law in Ancient Olympia, where students would have to pay fees.

Translated by John Crystallidis

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