The landslide that occurred in Wayanad on July 30 caused massive destruction. Thousands of people are in relief camps, while hundreds of lives have been lost. Meanwhile, rescue teams are continuously working. Only on Friday, four people came out alive from the debris after four days. On the basis of old cases, it is believed that a person with normal health can survive for about 5 days even under a heavy pile of mud and stones. In many cases, survival may last for two to three weeks.
This man from Haiti remained alive for a month
The devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010 took thousands of lives, while millions were left homeless. In this earthquake, a man named Evans Monjineck returned alive from under the debris after 27 days. Meanwhile, he kept drinking the water from the drain seeping somewhere in the ground, but could not get anything to eat. Many documentaries were also made on Evans, who remained alive despite being buried under the debris for almost a month. The young man admitted that the memory of his family and his desire to see them kept him alive.
Seoul youth stayed alive by eating cardboard
A similar case came from South Korea in the year 1955. On June 29, a five-storey department store built on the main market of the capital Seoul suddenly collapsed. 500 people were killed in the accident, and more than 900 were injured. The rescue team quickly started the work of evacuating people. However, the debris was in a very dangerous condition and would start falling with even the slightest movement.
The rescue team, working carefully, rescued hundreds of people alive within 2 days. Even after this, the search in the debris continued. The machines were getting signals that someone was alive inside. After 15 days, a young man could be rescued from inside the collapsed building. This 22 year old youth, Choi Muyang Suk, was buried between two layers of concrete.
body movement
After coming out, he told how he was able to stay alive inside the debris for almost two weeks. According to Choi, he was inside shopping when the building collapsed. He became unconscious after falling hard on something and when he regained consciousness, it was pitch dark.
quenching thirst with concrete
Choi had only so much space to turn from one side to the other. Sometimes he would lie on his back, sometimes on his stomach. In between, he would move his fingers and toes and blink his eyes to maintain the movement. He did not get food or water for 15 days. When he felt thirsty, he would lick the concrete and when he was hungry, he would gnaw on the cardboard lying nearby.
This woman was found alive after two weeks
In Dhaka, Bangladesh too, Reshma, a woman buried under the debris of the collapse of a weak building, was rescued alive after 17 days. He constantly says in Bengali, ‘Save me; She was murmuring. These examples may be exceptions, but it is believed that any adult can survive without eating or drinking for about a week. This is the reason why when a natural disaster occurs, the United Nations recommends continuing the rescue operation for 5 to 7 days. This is the period in which there has been stability in the devastation caused after earthquake or flood.
What is most important?
Survival depends on what condition we are in when an earthquake or landslide occurs. If there is contact with the outside world through air and water, then the chances of survival increase. But if the person trapped inside is badly injured, then there is a great possibility that he may not be able to survive even with air, water and even a few things to eat.
what happens inside the debris
In closed spaces the level of carbon dioxide increases dangerously. This creates so much heat that if someone gets trapped in a confined space, even if he has plenty of food and water, if rescue is not done quickly, there is a fear of death. Search teams often check carbon dioxide levels within the debris to determine how much attention should be paid to which area.
How long a person buried under the debris will be able to survive also depends on what the debris is made of. There are more chances of survival under a pile of mud and stones, whereas getting buried under a pile of garbage can be very dangerous, which can take the life of even a courageous person.
The garbage heap gives the most trouble
The increase in survival within the debris also depends on what the debris is made of. For example, if buried under garbage debris, the chances of survival are very less. The reason for this is not just suppression, but also the release of poisonous gases from the garbage. There are many types of things in garbage. It will also contain plastic, medicines and dangerous chemicals, and food too. All these together cause bacterial break-out, which produces toxic gases. This is a risk in itself.
Things like paint in a building being constructed also reduce oxygen in the air. This means that survivors also decrease in under-construction buildings.