Stardate 20010915.2055 (On Screen): There have been collapsed buildings before but never like this. In the last few years earthquakes have destroyed buildings all over the world, and sometimes survivors are found in the wreckage. But rarely is anyone found after five days. Between exposure and lack of water and likely severe injuries, even if a person didn't die in the initial collapse they are very unlikely to survive this long. And that in buildings which had been only five or ten stories tall; no-one has ever tried to find survivors in the collapse of a skyscraper before. There was never much hope that anyone would survive anyway. Those who had been high in the building would have died from the fall; those low would be crushed by a million tons of debris. All of us wanted survivors to be found, but now it's too late. The rescue crews will continue to look, of course, but there isn't going to be any miracle. From now on, the most important thing is to make sure none of the rescuers become casualties.
(discuss)
