In Chinese, chuan literally means river and si, four. Four major rivers and high mountains have shaped the province of Sichuan. Many of the province's 181 counties are at the foot of these picturesque mountains, with a river flowing from one end to the other.

But Beichuan, which had 30,000 residents in the town seat alone, does not have any river cutting across from one end to the other. It has only one narrow opening in the west because of which it has been under the threat of floods and mudslides.

So when the May 12 quake struck it brought down tons of rocks and a massive flow of mud from the mountains, intensifying the extent of the damage.

"I've heard the local government had been discussing relocating the people of the town for years," Yang says. "But this time it has to do it because the town has been destroyed."

Li Shizhen, a retired worker in the county's agricultural bureau, agrees. Searching for items in the rubble that can still be used, the 76-year-old says the survivors have to be relocated now, or they will move to other cities or towns on their own.

"Let every resident shift out of the town . If the name of the town disappears from the map, it could bring some solace to the people," Li says, trying to hide his emotions.

Zhou Chaoping, 38, who lives near the entrance to the town, 3 km away from the town seat, doesn't share Li's views, though.

"Most of the villagers made their living selling fruits and vegetables to the town residents . But the town has disappeared now, and we don't know how to earn money to feed our families." But that does not mean the town should be wiped out from the map.

All the 280 residents in Zhou's hamlet survived the quake, and only 30 of them suffered injuries.

New threats

Beichuan is facing other threats, however. Eight days after the quake, the air is filled with the stench of rotting flesh. High temperatures and showers have accelerated the decomposing of bodies and carcasses over the days.

The once green fields of the town are covered with dust, sand and rocks, big and small, which came rolling down the mountains. Some of the boulders are hanging so precariously that passersby are even afraid to cough for fear of triggering a landslide.

Mosquitoes and flies threaten to spread disease. Even rescue teams, journalists and survivors crossing the town are exposed to health risks.

Though almost all the residents who had survived the quake have been shifted from the town, the fear of an epidemic outbreak still looms.

(China Daily May 21, 2008)