ASIA-PACIFIC 
Rudd offers assistance and sympathy to China
Wednesday, 14 May, 2008
Mr Rudd, who has worked as a diplomat in Beijing and visited China just over a month ago, said Australia stood ready to offer assistance to help with the aftermath of the disaster. (AAP)
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Kevin Rudd has written to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to offer expert help and express Australia's sympathy in the wake of an earthquake that left at least 10,000 people dead.
Australia has offered search and rescue experts to help China with the 7.8 magnitude earthquake which hit the Sichuan province yesterday afternoon.
Canberra is also in discussions with Beijing about what humanitarian assistance Australia can provide.
Initial reports indicate no Australians were killed or injured in the quake, which struck close to the densely populated region.
Mr Rudd, who has worked as a diplomat in Beijing and visited China just over a month ago, said Australia stood ready to offer assistance to help with the aftermath of the disaster.
"On behalf of all Australians I extend our sympathy to those affected by the earthquake in China," he told parliament.
"I have written to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao this morning expressing this and offering Australian assistance, including search and rescue capabilities of the states and territories of Australia, through Emergency Management Australia.
"This is being followed up directly with Chinese officials, Australia stands ready to offer assistance."
Australian Geoff McGuigan was at Chengdu airport when the earthquake hit and described the panic that followed.
"Everyone started to yell and scream and there was this huge wall of humanity running towards me and the door," Mr McGuigan told the Seven Network.
He made it outside the terminal, where an elevated road was twisting with the intensity of the earthquake.
"As we went you could see it (the road) move and shudder and twist and flex as it became more intense," he said.
An Australian man living and working in China, Philip Skewes, told ABC radio he had felt two aftershocks in Chengdu since the quake.
"Around 4am and then 4.10am there were some aftershocks, and one of the other guys from this apartment experienced one about 10 minutes before I woke up," he said.
With the international community in outrage at Burma's refusal to accept adequate help following the deadly Cyclone Nargis, Beijing has quickly indicated it is more than willing to accept assistance.
The death toll, so far, has been put at almost 10,000 but with thousands buried in the rubble, experts say the number of dead is certain to be much higher.
Thirty-seven tourists were reportedly killed when their coach was buried in a landslide in Maoxian county, in the Tibetan-populated Aba prefecture of Sichuan province.
As well, 15 Britons are among 2,000 tourists stranded in Aba prefecture and out of contact.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said there were no initial reports of Australian deaths.
Australians are being urged by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to reconsider their need to travel to the area because of the damage to infrastructure, disruption to transport and the risk of aftershocks.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith urged Australians in the region to follow the advice of local emergency personnel.
"We also encourage Australians in the adversely affected areas to contact family and friends in Australia to confirm their safety if they are able to do so," he said.
"If family and friends of Australians in the affected areas have been in contact with them, they should relay that to (DFAT's) consular emergency centre."
Mr Rudd said the Chinese earthquake and the Burmese cyclone were a reminder of the need for effective regional mechanisms to respond to such disasters.
Source: AAP
Australia has offered search and rescue experts to help China with the 7.8 magnitude earthquake which hit the Sichuan province yesterday afternoon.
Canberra is also in discussions with Beijing about what humanitarian assistance Australia can provide.
Initial reports indicate no Australians were killed or injured in the quake, which struck close to the densely populated region.
Mr Rudd, who has worked as a diplomat in Beijing and visited China just over a month ago, said Australia stood ready to offer assistance to help with the aftermath of the disaster.
"On behalf of all Australians I extend our sympathy to those affected by the earthquake in China," he told parliament.
"I have written to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao this morning expressing this and offering Australian assistance, including search and rescue capabilities of the states and territories of Australia, through Emergency Management Australia.
"This is being followed up directly with Chinese officials, Australia stands ready to offer assistance."
Australian Geoff McGuigan was at Chengdu airport when the earthquake hit and described the panic that followed.
"Everyone started to yell and scream and there was this huge wall of humanity running towards me and the door," Mr McGuigan told the Seven Network.
He made it outside the terminal, where an elevated road was twisting with the intensity of the earthquake.
"As we went you could see it (the road) move and shudder and twist and flex as it became more intense," he said.
An Australian man living and working in China, Philip Skewes, told ABC radio he had felt two aftershocks in Chengdu since the quake.
"Around 4am and then 4.10am there were some aftershocks, and one of the other guys from this apartment experienced one about 10 minutes before I woke up," he said.
With the international community in outrage at Burma's refusal to accept adequate help following the deadly Cyclone Nargis, Beijing has quickly indicated it is more than willing to accept assistance.
The death toll, so far, has been put at almost 10,000 but with thousands buried in the rubble, experts say the number of dead is certain to be much higher.
Thirty-seven tourists were reportedly killed when their coach was buried in a landslide in Maoxian county, in the Tibetan-populated Aba prefecture of Sichuan province.
As well, 15 Britons are among 2,000 tourists stranded in Aba prefecture and out of contact.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said there were no initial reports of Australian deaths.
Australians are being urged by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to reconsider their need to travel to the area because of the damage to infrastructure, disruption to transport and the risk of aftershocks.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith urged Australians in the region to follow the advice of local emergency personnel.
"We also encourage Australians in the adversely affected areas to contact family and friends in Australia to confirm their safety if they are able to do so," he said.
"If family and friends of Australians in the affected areas have been in contact with them, they should relay that to (DFAT's) consular emergency centre."
Mr Rudd said the Chinese earthquake and the Burmese cyclone were a reminder of the need for effective regional mechanisms to respond to such disasters.
Source: AAP
