Venerable Chueh Pei managed to send out messages via texting (SMS) to Venerable Hui Chuan, Chief Commander of Fo Guang Shan (FGS) Rescue Operations and gave details about their precarious situation.
The text message from Venerable Chueh Pei reads as follows:
“The path [to Liuqui] is much worse than we have imagined. The whole team, including the abbess of Nan Ping Temple, helped to carry food and other aid materials. We only reached the village after two hours of walking.”
“To enter the village, we had to hold on to a rope. Since the path was not in good conditions, we almost lost a member [of our team] because of the gushing water. One [of the members] slipped and nearly fell along with all the food that he was carrying.”
[The] situation does not look good. The local quake lake was overflowing and the rivers were rising. The rescue team was thinking of giving up as it was too dangerous. However, having discussed [the situation] and thinking about the people [still trapped there], we all decided to keep going forward, no matter how dangerous it was.
[A few minutes later]
“We are now located on a smoother surface. Catholic nuns from a kindergarten in Liuqui have volunteered to drive us [deeper inland]. Many houses have been flushed down river and we met a few survivors. But [about]10,000 victims are still trapped.”
“We have reached higher grounds, and we are all safe inside Di Yuan Temple. But we can't go anuwhere [because of the heavy rain]. However, the residents in the mountains are desperately running out of food supplies. Helicopters has flown in many times.”
[An hour and half later]
“The rain has stopped. Four helicopters have flown in. The army have touched many with their assistance. The residents are very happy. We will be sending food to the village’s administration office and to Di Yuan Temple. It will temporarily solve the food problem. I will [now] head towards Cishan to take care of the needs of the survivors there.”
