WENZHOU, Zhejiang - Help for the victims of Saturday night's train crash, from medical and psychological specialists to residents with blood to spare, flocked to Wenzhou from other cities and communities within Wenzhou.

Doctors and nurses are making every effort to treat survivors, city health officials said. Medics from nearby cities, including Ningbo and Shanghai, also arrived to help out.

Eight groups of counselors will be on hand to offer psychological help to victims and their families, to doctors and rescuers.

As of Sunday night, 35 passengers had been killed and 192 injured in the accident. Nineteen of the dead had been identified, including 10 females and two foreigners.

Seriously injured victims were sent to eight hospitals across Wenzhou, with most at Wenzhou No 3 People's Hospital. Most are not native to the area and had no friends or family nearby.

Hundreds of residents have volunteered to offer assistance and comfort.

"I heard the news about the accident and I came to volunteer early this morning," Jing Rong, 24, who was standing in the hospital's reception area, said Sunday. "I don't want to know people are alone and in pain."

Thousands of Wenzhou residents also headed to blood stations to donate. Many people also offered to give others a ride to the stations.

"Others stereotype people from Wenzhou as rich in wealth only, whereas we also have an abundance of love and care," said Shen (he did not want his full name used) as he shuttled donors to the Central Blood Station in his brand new car.

Health officials assured that blood stocks are enough to cope with the demand caused by the rail disaster.

About 1,500 passengers, some with minor injuries, were taken to the nearby No 23 Middle School immediately after the accident. Drinking water and snacks were offered, while surrounding residents arrived with extra supplies.

The school also served as an information hub for friends and families of passengers on the trains, with names and updates posted on its walls.

By 8 am on Sunday, most passengers who stayed overnight had set off for their planned destinations or had been met by friends or family.

"I spent the last 10 hours in the refuge center and I'm looking forward to going home today," said a female passenger who gave her name only as Wang.

She was later offered a coach ticket to Fuzhou in Fujian province, which was her initial destination.

Wang Yongping, spokesman for the Ministry of Railways, apologized for the accident during an interview with China Central Television. He said investigation into the cause are continuing.

Although negotiations over compensation have not yet begun, current regulations allow relatives of people killed in train accidents to receive up to 172,000 yuan ($26,675).

Seven hotels in central Wenzhou reserved rooms for relatives of the those who died.

Of the 192 injured treated in 11 hospitals in Wenzhou, 60 were discharged and 132 still stayed as of Sunday night, said spokesman Wang Yongping.

China Daily

(China Daily 07/25/2011 page6)