SANY has sent truck cranes, excavators, vehicles and five rescue teams to aid in recovery efforts in earthquake-ravaged Sichuan Province in southwestern China.

A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck the Lushan County area of Sichuan Province on April 20, killing more than 190 people and injuring 11,000 others. Within 75 minutes of the quake, SANY sent its first advance team to the area. SANY was the first non-governmental organization to join relief efforts. Just minutes after the quake, SANY Heavy Industry President Xiang Wenbo wrote on his Sina Weibo micro-blog, “SANY will spare no effort to help with the relief.”

SANY, a leading manufacturer of construction equipment in China, sent 17 truck cranes, 10 excavators and 20 vehicles to Lushan County. The excavators have been used to clear roadways buried by landslides. Truck cranes are being used to install prefabricated housing units for families whose homes were damaged by the quake. A truck crane is being used to hold up the metal facade on a stadium building in Lushan County that continues to be rattled by aftershocks. The stadium is doubling as an emergency shelter.

“The work of removing the danger so high up had to be implemented immediately,” said Zhu Wenkui, SANY deputy general manager who has been chronicling relief efforts from Sichuan Province. “After the county headquarters gave the order to remove the danger, SANY equipment and staff got in front of the task.”

SANY excavators and road rollers are being used to level hundreds of acres of land to facilitate erection of tents for temporary shelter. SANY vehicles are being used to distribute rice, instant noodles, water, toiletries and other necessities. More than 100 SANY rescue workers are part of relief efforts, including some who served in the same role in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake that killed nearly 70,000 people.

SANY volunteers have come from near and far to help, including Wang Ting, an excavator operator who worked on a rescue crew after the 2008 temblor; and Song Shengyin, who traveled more than 600 miles from his SANY job in Xi’an, China. SANY volunteers distribute food and water, help carry the wounded to hospitals and work to construct resettlement villages for people who cannot return to their homes.

Wang, the excavator operator, was so touched by SANY’s relief efforts after the 2008 earthquake that he came to work for the company.

“After 10 days working together with the SANY team in the emergency situation, he was deeply moved by the dedication and spirit of the SANY people,” Zhu said.

Wang was among the first volunteers to travel to Sichuan Province after the April 20 earthquake.

SANY volunteers are working in many places, including Ya’an City, Baoxing county, Lushan county, Qinglongchang village and many other locations. Villagers line the streets in some areas, holding signs of thanks and preparing food for rescue workers. The gratitude of the earthquake victims has brought some rescue workers to tears. After workers delivered supplies to residents in Siyan village, the people did something nice for the aid volunteers. “This morning, to show their gratitude to SANY, the villagers made a full meal and climbed over mountainous terrain to deliver it to the SANY command post,” Zhu said.

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