Miyamoto International

Sichuan Earthquake Disaster Chronicle

We are the first foreign structural engineering team to survey the devastation sites of the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake. This magnitude 8.0 event has killed over 55,000 people and 20,000 are still missing as of May 23. The Death toll is expected to rise in coming days. This earthquake hit a densely populated part of China where a large earthquake was not expected. Many school buildings and hospitals collapsed and killed many thousands of children and helpless patients. The scale of death and destruction made this a very difficult trip.

We went to China to study the earthquake, collect data for the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, and survey our clients' damaged facilities. But as the week unfolded, the mission also evolved to providing technical commentary to foreign and domestic media, and to assist the local population.

This trip changed me completely as a human being and as a structural engineer. I will never forget the smell of death and the small backpacks at the collapsed schools. This is an engineering disaster that can be avoided completely. But it is not China's issue alone. It is a world problem. There are similar dangerous buildings all over the world. Structural engineers have a responsibility to speak out and act.

This is a personal chronicle and I wrote as I observed this catastrophe.

Throughout this trip, I found the Chinese government to be very open, organized and competent. I also found the people in Sichuan to be very warm and resilient. I will not forget an old lady who graciously offered us water and bread even though she lost everything including her family.

I would like to acknowledge our team members, Chris Heaton of Global Risk Miyamoto, Rocky Ng of China Railway, Tenth Group, Third Engineering Company. Without them, this trip could not have been possible. I also thank Miyamoto International and Global Risk Miyamoto staff and our clients whose emails of encouragement during the trip kept me sane... especially Tom Chan, Shin Kao and Rebecca Cully whose technical support and editing of this manuscript was very critical for our trip and journal. Peter Yanev, who visited over 100 earthquake sites himself, provided us with important technical advice. King Huang also provided us with expert advice regarding Chinese matters.

I also would like to acknowledge the brave field TV crews from NBC (U.S.) and NHK (Japan). Their passion for truth and professionalism is unquestionable. Thank you, Kondo, Irie, Dong, Pei, Ian, Kyle, and Ed.

For all people who lost their lives. Especially for the children...