大地沉睡的那一夜

Strange things were happening in the countryside of northeastern Hebei. For several days, the water in the village wells rose and fell, rose and fell. There were deep cracks in the well walls. Chickens and even pigs were too nervous to eat, and dogs refused to go inside buildings. Mice ran out of the fields looking for places to hide, and fish jumped out of the water. At about 3:00 a.m., on 28 July 1976, bright lights were seen in the sky outside the city of Tangshan and loud noises were heard.

At 3:42 a.m., everything began to shake. It seemed as if the world were coming to an end! Eleven kilometres directly below the city, one of the most deadly earthquakes of the 20th century had begun. In less than one minute, a large city lay in ruins. Two thirds of the people who lived there were dead or injured.

Everywhere survivors looked, there was nothing but ruins. Bricks covered the ground like red autumn leaves. Most bridges had fallen. The railway tracks were now useless pieces of metal. People were in shock — and then, later that afternoon, another big quake shook Tangshan again. Water, food, and electricity were hard to get.

But hope was not lost. The army sent 150,000 soldiers to Tangshan to dig out those who were trapped and to bury the dead. More than 10,000 doctors and nurses came to provide medical care. Workers built shelters for survivors whose homes had been destroyed. Slowly, the city began to breathe again.

Tangshan started to revive itself. With strong support from the government and the tireless efforts of the city's people, a new Tangshan was built upon the earthquake ruins. The new city has become a home to more than seven million people. Tangshan has proved to the world that in times of disaster, people must unify and show the wisdom to stay positive and rebuild for a brighter future.