My first day of reporting in the earthquake zone in Yunnan province was longer than I had expected. As I saw the rubble of toppled buildings and tears on people's faces, a tremendous sadness engulfed the hope that I had had for the victims.

When I arrived at Longtoushan township, an area hit hard by the quake, I saw collapsed buildings, people crying and rescuers racing against time to save lives.

Wen Dacai said in tears that her husband was injured in the quake and that her brother's four children are still missing. Their houses were all damaged.

"Where is my family now?" she asked. I didn't know how to answer and could only comfort her son cradled in her arms.

I then traveled along a congested road for what seemed like ages and arrived in the Ludian People's Hospital, the largest in the county, where more than 260 injured people were receiving treatment.

An orthopedist said he had treated more than 20 injuries on the first day after the quake, with patients ranging in age from 4 months to over 80.

"It's never easy to treat an injured baby. Their cries made my heart ache," he said.

I witnessed similar chaos in Yiliang county. As I walked around in a hospital there, I was overcome with sadness as I sensed the same pain from the victims.

Yet there was a bright light amid the darkness. Zhang Qingyun, a 15-year-old girl, sat in a bed with minor injuries to her feet and head. She was talking to her father, also slightly injured, saying, "It's OK, father. We are alive, and we are together."

Though the girl held her father's hands while talking and smiling, it felt as if she were also saying to me, "It's OK."

Liu Qiwei, an official at the hospital, told me its medical treatment was in line with standards in Beijing and other major cities.

After I received updates from colleagues that more quake relief was on the way, I felt my strength and hope return. Though it's difficult to walk around areas ravaged by an earthquake, it's comforting to know that the whole country is paying attention and that help will arrive.

I'm hungry and exhausted, but I'll walk around some more and write about the victims to give an accurate picture of the earthquake zone. This will help me as a journalist when I next report on an area struck by disaster.

Zheng Jinran contributed to this story.

(China Daily 08/07/2014 page3)