I have, on multiple occasions, visited sites of earthquakes to collect data on building damages, analyzed the causes of collapses, and provided reinforcement and technical repair solutions. After the 8.0-magnitude Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, my colleagues and I developed new experimental methods to reveal the destructive mechanisms of building collapses. As a structural safety expert with the China Search and Rescue Team, I participated in rescue operations for the Turkiye earthquake in 2023 and the Myanmar earthquake this year. During these operations, I ventured into ruins amidst risks of aftershock, conducting safety analysis of the debris and providing a basis for rescue plans, effectively ensuring the smooth conduct of rescue operations.

Wang Tao, a researcher at China Earthquake Administration's Institute of Engineering Mechanics