2008_Sichuan_earthquake

qas: question: In what year did the earthquake in Sichuan occur?
answers: text: 2008

question: What was the earthquake named?
answers: text: the Great Sichuan earthquake

question: How many people were killed as a result?
answers: text: 69,197

question: What year did the Sichuan earthquake take place?
answers: text: 2008

question: What did the quake measure?
answers: text: 8.0 Ms and 7.9 Mw

question: What day did the earthquake occur?
answers: text: May 12

question: What time of the day did the quake happen?
answers: text: 02:28:01 PM China Standard Time

question: How many people died?
answers: text: 69,197
context: The 2008 Sichuan earthquake or the Great Sichuan earthquake, measured at 8.0 Ms and 7.9 Mw, and occurred at 02:28:01 PM China Standard Time at epicenter (06:28:01 UTC) on May 12 in Sichuan province, killed 69,197 people and left 18,222 missing.

qas: question: Which far away cities in other countries could feel the earthquake?
answers: text: Beijing and Shanghai

question: What was the focal depth of the earthquake?
answers: text: 19 km

question: How long after the earthquake were aftershocks felt?
answers: text: months after

question: What is another name for the earthquake in Sichuan?
answers: text: the Wenchuan earthquake

question: Where was the epicenter of the earthquake?
answers: text: Wenchuan County, Sichuan

question: How far was it from Chengdu?
answers: text: 80 kilometres

question: What was the focal depth of the quake?
answers: text: 19 km
context: It is also known as the Wenchuan earthquake (Chinese: 汶川大地震; pinyin: Wènchuān dà dìzhèn; literally: "Great Wenchuan earthquake"), after the location of the earthquake's epicenter, Wenchuan County, Sichuan. The epicenter was 80 kilometres (50 mi) west-northwest of Chengdu, the provincial capital, with a focal depth of 19 km (12 mi). The earthquake was also felt in nearby countries and as far away as both Beijing and Shanghai—1,500 km (930 mi) and 1,700 km (1,060 mi) away—where office buildings swayed with the tremor. Strong aftershocks, some exceeding magnitude 6, continued to hit the area even months after the main quake, causing new casualties and damage.

qas: question: How many people were confirmed dead?
answers: text: 69,197

question: How many people were confirmed dead only in the Sichuan province?
answers: text: 68,636

question: How many people were left homeless because of the earthquake?
answers: text: 4.8 million

question: How many people lived in the affected area?
answers: text: 15 million

question: How much money was dedicated to rebuild ravaged areas?
answers: text: 1 trillion RMB

question: How many people died in Sichuan Province?
answers: text: 68,636

question: How many were injured in Sichuan?
answers: text: 374,176

question: How many people are listed as missing?
answers: text: 18,222

question: How many people are homeless because of the quake?
answers: text: 4.8 million

question: How high could the homeless number possibly go?
answers: text: 11 million
context: Official figures (as of July 21, 2008 12:00 CST) stated that 69,197 were confirmed dead, including 68,636 in Sichuan province, and 374,176 injured, with 18,222 listed as missing. The earthquake left about 4.8 million people homeless, though the number could be as high as 11 million. Approximately 15 million people lived in the affected area. It was the deadliest earthquake to hit China since the 1976 Tangshan earthquake, which killed at least 240,000 people, and the strongest in the country since the 1950 Chayu earthquake, which registered at 8.5 on the Richter magnitude scale. It is the 21st deadliest earthquake of all time. On November 6, 2008, the central government announced that it would spend 1 trillion RMB (about US $146.5 billion) over the next three years to rebuild areas ravaged by the earthquake, as part of the Chinese economic stimulus program.

qas: question: Where was the epicenter?
answers: text: Wenchuan County, Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture

question: How long did the earthquake last?
answers: text: 2 minutes

question: What percentage of buildings were destroyed?
answers: text: 80%

question: What was the magnitude of the earthquake?
answers: text: 8.0 Ms and 7.9 Mw

question: How long did the main tremor last?
answers: text: 2 minutes

question: What percentage of buildings were destroyed during the quake?
answers: text: almost 80%
context: The earthquake had a magnitude of 8.0 Ms and 7.9 Mw. The epicenter was in Wenchuan County, Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, 80 km west/northwest of the provincial capital of Chengdu, with its main tremor occurring at 14:28:01.42 China Standard Time (06:28:01.42 UTC), on May 12, 2008 lasting for around 2 minutes, in the quake almost 80% of buildings were destroyed.

qas: question: On what fault did the earthquake occur?
answers: text: Longmenshan fault

question: Where is the Longmenshan fault located?
answers: text: along the border of the Indo-Australian Plate and Eurasian Plate

question: How long did the rupture last?
answers: text: 120 sec

question: How deep was the focus of the earthquake?
answers: text: 10 km

question: Along what fault line did the quake happen?
answers: text: Longmenshan fault

question: On which fracture did the quake focus?
answers: text: Yingxiu-Beichuan fracture

question: When wasmost of the energy released during the initial eruption?
answers: text: first 80 sec.

question: What was the most displacement caused by the earthquake?
answers: text: 9 meters
context: According to a study by the China Earthquake Administration (CEA), the earthquake occurred along the Longmenshan fault, a thrust structure along the border of the Indo-Australian Plate and Eurasian Plate. Seismic activities concentrated on its mid-fracture (known as Yingxiu-Beichuan fracture). The rupture lasted close to 120 sec, with the majority of energy released in the first 80 sec. Starting from Wenchuan, the rupture propagated at an average speed of 3.1 kilometers per second 49° toward north east, rupturing a total of about 300 km. Maximum displacement amounted to 9 meters. The focus was deeper than 10 km.

qas: question: When was the confidential written report sent to the State Seismological Bureau?
answers: text: April 30, 2008

question: When was Geng's drought-earthquake correlation theory released?
answers: text: 1972

question: What did researcher Geng Qingguo say was sent to the State Seismological Bureau?
answers: text: written report

question: What did this report warn about?
answers: text: significant earthquake in Ngawa Prefecture

question: What was the predicted time of the quake?
answers: text: around May 8

question: What did Geng long try to establish as a relationship with earthquakes?
answers: text: droughts

question: What did an official with the Seismological Bureau deny receiving?
answers: text: reports predicting the earthquake
context: Malaysia-based Yazhou Zhoukan conducted an interview with former researcher at the China Seismological Bureau Geng Qingguo (耿庆国), in which Geng claimed that a confidential written report was sent to the State Seismological Bureau on April 30, 2008, warning about the possible occurrence of a significant earthquake in Ngawa Prefecture region of Sichuan around May 8, with a range of 10 days before or after the quake. Geng, while acknowledging that earthquake prediction was broadly considered problematic by the scientific community, believed that "the bigger the earthquake, the easier it is to predict." Geng had long attempted to establish a correlation between the occurrence of droughts and earthquakes; Premier Zhou Enlai reportedly took an interest in Geng's work. Geng's drought-earthquake correlation theory was first released in 1972, and said to have successfully predicted the 1975 Haicheng and 1976 Tangshan earthquakes. The same Yazhou Zhoukan article pointed out the inherent difficulties associated with predicting earthquakes. In response, an official with the Seismological Bureau stated that "earthquake prediction is widely acknowledged around the world to be difficult from a scientific standpoint." The official also denied that the Seismological Bureau had received reports predicting the earthquake.

qas: question: How large was the displacement?
answers: text: up to 9 meters

question: Who warned of possible seismic activity in the area beforehand?
answers: text: Tom Parsons

question: What did the United States Geological Survey show as the amount of displacement?
answers: text: 9 meters

question: How long was the fault where the quake occurred?
answers: text: 240 km long

question: How deep is the fault?
answers: text: 20 km deep

question: Where on the fault is the possibility of future earthquakes increased?
answers: text: northeastern and southwestern ends

question: What did Tom Parsons consider as the risk factor for strong future quakes?
answers: text: high risk
context: In a United States Geological Survey (USGS) study, preliminary rupture models of the earthquake indicated displacement of up to 9 meters along a fault approximately 240 km long by 20 km deep. The earthquake generated deformations of the surface greater than 3 meters and increased the stress (and probability of occurrence of future events) at the northeastern and southwestern ends of the fault. On May 20, USGS seismologist Tom Parsons warned that there is "high risk" of a major M>7 aftershock over the next weeks or months.

qas: question: How many people were killed in the Hanshin earthquake?
answers: text: 6,000 people

question: How did Yuji Yagi say the quake happened?
answers: text: in two stages

question: What fault tore in two places?
answers: text: Longmenshan Fault

question: Besides the population density, what else contributed to the severity of the quake?
answers: text: shallowness of the epicenter

question: How much greater was the energy of this quake than that released in the earthquake of 1995 in Japan?
answers: text: 30 times

question: Why did the seismic waves travel so far?
answers: text: firmness of the terrain
context: Japanese seismologist Yuji Yagi at the University of Tsukuba said that the earthquake occurred in two stages: "The 155-mile Longmenshan Fault tore in two sections, the first one ripping about seven yards, followed by a second one that sheared four yards." His data also showed that the earthquake lasted about two minutes and released 30 times the energy of the Great Hanshin earthquake of 1995 in Japan, which killed over 6,000 people. He pointed out that the shallowness of the epicenter and the density of population greatly increased the severity of the earthquake. Teruyuki Kato, a seismologist at the University of Tokyo, said that the seismic waves of the quake traveled a long distance without losing their power because of the firmness of the terrain in central China. According to reports from Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, the earthquake tremors lasted for "about two or three minutes".

qas: question: How many aftershocks were there?
answers: text: Between 64 and 104

question: When were the aftershocks recorded?
answers: text: within 72 hours of the main quake.

question: When did the latest magnitude 6 aftershock occur?
answers: text: on August 5, 2008

question: How many aftershocks were there within 72 hours?
answers: text: Between 64 and 104

question: What do the Chinese say is the total number of shocks after the quake?
answers: text: 42,719

question: What did the strongest aftershock measure?
answers: text: 6.4 MS

question: How many shocks ranged from 4.0 MS to 4.9 MS?
answers: text: 246

question: At what date did the most recent aftershock above 6 MS occur?
answers: text: August 5, 2008
context: Between 64 and 104 major aftershocks, ranging in magnitude from 4.0 to 6.1, were recorded within 72 hours of the main quake. According to Chinese official counts, "by 12:00 CST, November 6, 2008 there had been 42,719 total aftershocks, of which 246 ranged from 4.0 MS to 4.9 MS, 34 from 5.0 MS to 5.9 MS, and 8 from 6.0 Ms to 6.4 MS; the strongest aftershock measured 6.4 MS." The latest aftershock exceeding M6 occurred on August 5, 2008.

qas: question: When did this earthquake occur?
answers: text: August 30, 2008

question: Where did this earthquake occur?
answers: text: southern Sichuan

question: Why was it not included in the series?
answers: text: because it was caused by a different fault.

question: Where should you look for more details?
answers: text: 2008 Panzhihua earthquake

question: Where was the August 30, 2008 quake?
answers: text: southern Sichuan

question: What was the magnitude of the southern Sichuan quake?
answers: text: Ms 6.1

question: What earthquake happened in southern Sichuan?
answers: text: Panzhihua earthquake
context: (The Ms 6.1 earthquake on August 30, 2008 in southern Sichuan was not part of this series because it was caused by a different fault. See 2008 Panzhihua earthquake for details.)

qas: question: Who published the map of the earthquakes intensity?
answers: text: CEA

question: What was the intensity scaled at?
answers: text: XI

question: What does the China Seismic Intensity Scale call the earthquake?
answers: text: very destructive

question: How did the USGS rate the earthquake?
answers: text: very disastrous

question: What town was closest to the main epicenter?
answers: text: Yingxiu, Wenchuan
context: The map of earthquake intensity published by CEA after surveying 500,000 km2 of the affected area shows a maximum liedu of XI on the China Seismic Intensity Scale (CSIS), described as "very destructive" on the European Macroseismic Scale (EMS) from which CSIS drew reference. (USGS, using the Modified Mercalli intensity scale (CC), also placed maximum intensity at XI, "very disastrous".) Two south-west-north-east stripes of liedu XI are centered around Yingxiu, Wenchuan (the town closest to the epicenter of the main quake) and Beichuan (the town repeatedly struck by strong aftershocks including one registering MS 6.1 on Aug 1, 2008), both in Sichuan Province, occupying a total of 2,419 km2. The Yingxiu liedu-XI zone is about 66 km long and 20 km wide along Wenchuan–Dujiangyan–Pengzhou; the Beichuan liedu-XI zone is about 82 km long and 15 km wide along An County–Beichuan–Pingwu. The area with liedu X (comparable to X on EMS, "destructive" and X on MM, "disastrous") spans 3,144 km2. The area affected by earthquakes exceeding liedu VI totals 440,442 km2, occupying an oval 936 km long and 596 km wide, spanning three provinces and one autonomous region.

qas: question: Where is the Longmenshan Fault located?
answers: text: the eastern border of the Tibetan Plateau

question: What is the average slip in the Beichuan Fault?
answers: text: 3.5 metres

question: How large was the slip 30 km northeast of the fault?
answers: text: 3 metres

question: What was the vertical average slip on the Guanxian-Anxian fault?
answers: text: 2 metres

question: What was the horizontal average slip on the Guanxian-Anxian fault?
answers: text: 2.3 metres

question: Where is the Longmen shan fault located?
answers: text: Tibetan Plateau

question: Where are the Beichuan and Guanxian-Anxian Faults?
answers: text: Longmen Shan Fault System

question: What was the average vertical slip in the Beichaun Fault?
answers: text: 3.5 metres

question: What was the horizontal slippage in the Beichuan Fault at the epicenter?
answers: text: 3.5 metres

question: What was the horizontal slippage perpendicular to the fault?
answers: text: 4.8 metres
context: The Longmen Shan Fault System is situated in the eastern border of the Tibetan Plateau and contains several faults. This earthquake ruptured at least two imbricate structures in Longmen Shan Fault System, i.e. the Beichuan Fault and the Guanxian–Anxian Fault. In the epicentral area, the average slip in Beichuan Fault was about 3.5 metres (11 ft) vertical, 3.5 metres (11 ft) horizontal-parallel to the fault, and 4.8 metres (16 ft) horizontal-perpendicular to the fault. In the area about 30 kilometres (19 mi) northeast of the epicenter, the surface slip on Beichuan Fault was almost purely dextral strike-slip up to about 3 metres (9.8 ft), while the average slip in Guanxian–Anxian Fault was about 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) vertical and 2.3 metres (7 ft 7 in) horizontal.

qas: question: Where were office buildings evacuated?
answers: text: Shanghai's financial district

question: How did a receptionist describe the atmosphere after the evacuation?
answers: text: calm

question: How long were workers in Ford Plant evacuated for?
answers: text: 10 minutes

question: Which airport was shut down?
answers: text: Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport

question: When did the airport re-open?
answers: text: May 12

question: What happened to office buildings in Shanghai?
answers: text: evacuated

question: Which airport was shut down?
answers: text: Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport

question: Why were flights delayed and diverted?
answers: text: disruption in air traffic services

question: What were they using the airport to stage for?
answers: text: relief operations
context: Office buildings in Shanghai's financial district, including the Jin Mao Tower and the Hong Kong New World Tower, were evacuated. A receptionist at the Tibet Hotel in Chengdu said things were "calm" after the hotel evacuated its guests. Meanwhile, workers at a Ford plant in Sichuan were evacuated for about 10 minutes. Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport was shut down, and the control tower and regional radar control evacuated. One SilkAir flight was diverted and landed in Kunming as a result. Cathay Pacific delayed both legs of its quadruple daily Hong Kong to London route due to this disruption in air traffic services. Chengdu Shuangliu Airport reopened later on the evening of May 12, offering limited service as the airport began to be used as a staging area for relief operations.

qas: question: Where did the reporters say they saw cracks on walls of some buildings?
answers: text: in Chengdu

question: Where were office towers evacuated?
answers: text: Beijing

question: Where did a cargo train derail as a result?
answers: text: Hui County, Gansu

question: What happened to the cargo train?
answers: text: caught on fire

question: What was reported in Chengdu?
answers: text: cracks on walls

question: What was evacuated in Beijing?
answers: text: office towers

question: What part of the Olympic area was not damaged?
answers: text: venues

question: Where did a cargo train derail?
answers: text: Hui County, Gansu

question: Why did the train catch fire?
answers: text: rail was distorted
context: Reporters in Chengdu said they saw cracks on walls of some residential buildings in the downtown areas, but no buildings collapsed. Many Beijing office towers were evacuated, including the building housing the media offices for the organizers of the 2008 Summer Olympics. None of the Olympic venues were damaged. Meanwhile, a cargo train carrying 13 petrol tanks derailed in Hui County, Gansu, and caught on fire after the rail was distorted.

qas: question: How many highways leading into Wenchuan were damaged?
answers: text: All of the highways

question: What percentage of building collapsed in Beichuan?
answers: text: 80%

question: Where did two chemical plants collapse?
answers: text: Dujiangyan

question: How many students out of the 900 in the school, survived the collapse?
answers: text: 60

question: What highways into Wenchuan  were damaged?
answers: text: All of the highways

question: What did the damaged roadways cause to the rescue operations?
answers: text: delayed arrival

question: How many of the buildings in Beichuan collapsed?
answers: text: 80%

question: What leaked liquid ammonia in Shifang?
answers: text: two chemical plants

question: How many of the 900 students buried in a Dujiangyan school collapse survived?
answers: text: fewer than 60
context: All of the highways into Wenchuan, and others throughout the province, were damaged, resulting in delayed arrival of the rescue troops. In Beichuan County, 80% of the buildings collapsed according to Xinhua News. In the city of Shifang, the collapse of two chemical plants led to leakage of some 80 tons of liquid ammonia, with hundreds of people reported buried. In the city of Dujiangyan, south-east of the epicenter, a whole school collapsed with 900 students buried and fewer than 60 survived. The Juyuan Middle School, where many teenagers were buried, was excavated by civilians and cranes. Dujiangyan is home of the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, an ancient water diversion project which is still in use and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The project's famous Fish Mouth was cracked but not severely damaged otherwise.

qas: question: Where were the exchanges based?
answers: text: southwestern China

question: What metal rose in value?
answers: text: Copper

question: What natural resource dropped in value?
answers: text: oil

question: What did the Shanghai Stock Exchange do?
answers: text: suspended trading

question: Where were companies located that had their stock trading suspended?
answers: text: southwestern China

question: What metal rose due to speculation?
answers: text: Copper

question: Besides the Shanghai Stock Exchange, what other exchange suspended trading of southwestern China stock?
answers: text: Shenzhen Stock Exchange
context: Both the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange suspended trading of companies based in southwestern China. Copper rose over speculations that production in southwestern China may be affected, and oil prices dropped over speculations that demand from China would fall.

qas: question: What kinds of telecommunications were cut?
answers: text: mobile and terrestrial

question: What capabilities were cut to the entire Sichuan area?
answers: text: internet

question: How long did it take for these capabilities to be restored?
answers: text: months

question: What was cut after the earthquake?
answers: text: telecommunications

question: Where were the internet cut?
answers: text: Sichuan area

question: Who restored communications over a period of months?
answers: text: the government

question: What internet services were decreased in the area?
answers: text: news and media websites

question: What services were finally online again?
answers: text: major news and media
context: Immediately after the earthquake event, mobile and terrestrial telecommunications were cut to the affected and surrounding area, with all internet capabilities cut to the Sichuan area too. Elements of telecommunications were restored by the government piece by piece over the next number of months as the situation in the Sichuan province gradually improved. Eventually, a handful of major news and media websites were made accessible online in the region, albeit with dramatically pared back webpages.

qas: question: How many base stations did China Mobile have suspended?
answers: text: 2,300

question: How many Unicom towers were suspended?
answers: text: more than 700

question: How many China Mobile base stations stopped working?
answers: text: 2,300

question: Besides power disruption, what caused telecommunications to be suspended?
answers: text: traffic congestion

question: How many wireless communications failed in Sichuan?
answers: text: Half

question: Whose service in Wenchuan was cut off?
answers: text: China Unicom

question: How many of China Unicom's towers were cut?
answers: text: 700
context: China Mobile had more than 2,300 base stations suspended due to power disruption or severe telecommunication traffic congestion. Half of the wireless communications were lost in the Sichuan province. China Unicom's service in Wenchuan and four nearby counties was cut off, with more than 700 towers suspended.

qas: question: What place could officials not contact?
answers: text: the Wolong National Nature Reserve

question: How many pandas live at the Reserve?
answers: text: around 280

question: How many British visitors to the Reserve left unharmed?
answers: text: 31

question: How many pandas were injured?
answers: text: 2

question: What nature center was cutoff?
answers: text: Wolong National Nature Reserve

question: How many pandas escaped the reserve?
answers: text: Six

question: How many security guards died at the reserve?
answers: text: five

question: What famous panda was killed under the rubble?
answers: text: Mao Mao
context: Initially, officials were unable to contact the Wolong National Nature Reserve, home to around 280 giant pandas. However, the Foreign Ministry later said that a group of 31 British tourists visiting the Wolong Panda Reserve in the quake-hit area returned safe and uninjured to Chengdu. Nonetheless, the well-being of an even greater number of pandas in the neighbouring panda reserves remained unknown. Five security guards at the reserve were killed by the earthquake. Six pandas escaped after their enclosures were damaged. By May 20, two pandas at the reserve were found to be injured, while the search continued for another two adult pandas that went missing after the quake. By May 28, 2008, one panda was still missing. The missing panda was later found dead under the rubble of an enclosure. Nine-year-old Mao Mao, a mother of five at the breeding center, was discovered on Monday, her body crushed by a wall in her enclosure. Panda keepers and other workers placed her remains in a small wooden crate and buried her outside the breeding centre.

qas: question: What power plant was damaged?
answers: text: Hydropower Plant

question: How far away was the plant located from the epicenter?
answers: text: 20 km east

question: How many troops were allocated to Zipingpu?
answers: text: 2,000

question: How many dams were damaged?
answers: text: 391

question: What power plant was damaged by the earthquake?
answers: text: Zipingpu Hydropower Plant

question: How near to the epicenter was the power plant?
answers: text: 20 km

question: What has a recent inspection found about the damage to the power plant?
answers: text: less severe

question: What might possibly collapse upstream from the power plant?
answers: text: Tulong reservoir

question: What is the total number of dams damaged?
answers: text: 391
context: The Zipingpu Hydropower Plant (simplified Chinese: 紫坪铺水库; traditional Chinese: 紫坪鋪水庫) located 20 km east of the epicenter was damaged. A recent inspection indicated that the damage was less severe than initially feared, and it remains structurally stable and safe. The Tulong reservoir upstream is in danger of collapse. About 2,000 troops have been allocated to Zipingpu, trying to release the pressure through spillway. In total, 391 dams, most of them small, were reported damaged by the quake.

qas: question: How many deaths were reported?
answers: text: 69,180

question: How many deaths were reported only in the Sichuan province?
answers: text: 68,636

question: How many people were listed as missing?
answers: text: 18,498

question: How many people were injured?
answers: text: 374,176

question: How many earthquake relief workers were killed?
answers: text: 158

question: How many died in Sichuan?
answers: text: 68,636

question: What is the total tally of known deaths caused by the earthquake?
answers: text: 69,180

question: What is the number of missing persons?
answers: text: 18,498

question: How many people were injured?
answers: text: 374,176

question: What were the 158 relief workers doing when they were killed?
answers: text: tried to repair roads
context: According to Chinese state officials, the quake caused 69,180 known deaths including 68,636 in Sichuan province; 18,498 people are listed as missing, and 374,176 injured, but these figures may further increase as more reports come in.[dated info] This estimate includes 158 earthquake relief workers who were killed in landslides as they tried to repair roads.

qas: question: How many survivors were there from Yingxiu?
answers: text: 2,300

question: Where is Yingxiu located?
answers: text: in Wenchuan

question: How many people in total lived in Yingxiu?
answers: text: 9,000

question: How many people were killed in Beichuan County?
answers: text: 3,000 to 5,000

question: How many people were injured in Beichuan County?
answers: text: 10,000

question: How many survivors were there in the town of Yingxiu?
answers: text: 2,300

question: What was the previous population of Yingxiu?
answers: text: about 9,000

question: How many residents were killed in Beichuan County?
answers: text: 3,000 to 5,000

question: How large was the number of injured in Beichuan County?
answers: text: 10,000

question: What is the number of schools that collapsed in Dujiangyan?
answers: text: Eight schools
context: One rescue team reported only 2,300 survivors from the town of Yingxiu in Wenchuan County, out of a total population of about 9,000. 3,000 to 5,000 people were killed in Beichuan County, Sichuan alone; in the same location, 10,000 people were injured and 80% of the buildings were destroyed. The old county seat of Beichuan was abandoned and preserved as part of the Beichuan Earthquake Museum. Eight schools were toppled in Dujiangyan. A 56-year-old was killed in Dujiangyan during a rescue attempt on the Lingyanshan Ropeway, where due to the earthquake 11 tourists from Taiwan had been trapped inside cable cars since May 13. A 4-year-old boy named Zhu Shaowei (traditional Chinese: 朱紹維; simplified Chinese: 朱绍维; pinyin: Zhū Shàowéi) was also killed in Mianzhu City when a house collapsed on him and another was reported missing.

qas: question: What is poor about inland areas such as Sichuan?
answers: text: Health care

question: Who was the Vice Minister of Health?
answers: text: Gao Qiang

question: What did Gao Qiang tell reporters in Beijing?
answers: text: public health care system in China is insufficient

question: How economically forward has this area been?
answers: text: neglected and untouched

question: Where is health care poor in China?
answers: text: inland areas

question: What did the Vice Minster of Health call the public health system in China?
answers: text: insufficient

question: What should the government of China be responsible for providing to earthquake survivors?
answers: text: medical treatment
context: Experts point out that the earthquake hit an area that has been largely neglected and untouched by China's economic rise. Health care is poor in inland areas such as Sichuan, highlighting the widening gap between prosperous urban dwellers and struggling rural people. Vice Minister of Health Gao Qiang told reporters in Beijing that the "public health care system in China is insufficient." The Vice Minister of Health also suggested that the government would pick up the costs of care to earthquake victims, many of whom have little or no insurance: "The government should be responsible for providing medical treatment to them," he said.

qas: question: How many school children died due to shoddy construction?
answers: text: thousands

question: How many schools collapsed in Mianyang City?
answers: text: seven

question: How many people were buried in the collapsed schools?
answers: text: 1,700

question: How many school buildings collapsed in the province?
answers: text: 7,000

question: How many students were buried in a school in Hanwang?
answers: text: 700

question: What caused the deaths of many school children?
answers: text: shoddy construction

question: How many schools collapsed in Mianyang City
answers: text: seven

question: How many people were buried under rubble in Mianyang City?
answers: text: 1,700

question: How many school buildings fell in the entire province?
answers: text: 7,000

question: How many were killed at the Juyuan Elementary School?
answers: text: 600
context: In terms of school casualties, thousands of school children died due to shoddy construction. In Mianyang City, seven schools collapsed, burying at least 1,700 people. At least 7,000 school buildings throughout the province collapsed. Another 700 students were buried in a school in Hanwang. At least 600 students and staff died at Juyuan Elementary School. Up to 1,300 children and teachers died at Beichuan Middle School.

qas: question: When did an investigation occur under school casualties?
answers: text: December 2008

question: When was the official tally of students killed in the earthquake released?
answers: text: May 7, 2009

question: How many students were killed in Xinhua?
answers: text: 5,335

question: How many students were disabled in Xinhua?
answers: text: 546

question: What date were the official numbers of students killed in the earthquake released?
answers: text: May 7, 2009

question: Who kept a blog about the school deaths?
answers: text: Ai Weiwei

question: What is the total of school children killed?
answers: text: 5,335

question: How many children are disabled?
answers: text: 546

question: Where did the Chinese government decide that parents who had lost children could go for free treatment?
answers: text: fertility clinics
context: Details of school casualties had been under non-governmental investigation since December 2008 by volunteers including artist and architect Ai Weiwei, who had been constantly posting updates on his blog since March 2009. The official tally of students killed in the earthquake was not released until May 7, 2009, almost a year after the earthquake. According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, the earthquake killed 5,335 students and left another 546 children disabled. In the aftermath of the earthquake, the Chinese government declared that parents who had lost their only children would get free treatment from fertility clinics to reverse vasectomies and tubal ligations conducted by family planning authorities.

qas: question: How many people were left without housing?
answers: text: 5 million

question: How many people could be potentially without housing?
answers: text: 11 million

question: How many animals were killed?
answers: text: 12.5 million

question: How many pigs died in Sichuan?
answers: text: 1 million

question: Because of the earthquake, how many people did not have housing?
answers: text: at least 5 million

question: How many people might actually be homeless?
answers: text: 11 million

question: How much livestock was lost?
answers: text: 12.5 million animals

question: How many pigs died from the earthquake in Sichuan ?
answers: text: a million
context: The earthquake left at least 5 million people without housing, although the number could be as high as 11 million. Millions of livestock and a significant amount of agriculture were also destroyed, including 12.5 million animals, mainly birds. In the Sichuan province a million pigs died out of 60 million total. Catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide reported official estimates of insurers' losses at US$1 billion from the earthquake; estimated total damages exceed US$20 billion. It values Chengdu, at the time having an urban population of 4.5 million people, at around US$115 billion, with only a small portion covered by insurance.

qas: question: Who was a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Georgia Tech?
answers: text: Reginald DesRoches

question: What is the profession of Reginald DesRoches?
answers: text: professor of civil and environmental engineering

question: When did China create a seismic design code for building?
answers: text: 1976

question: What catastrophe inspired them to make a building design code/ 
answers: text: Tangshan earthquake
context: Reginald DesRoches, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Georgia Tech, pointed out that the massive damage of properties and houses in the earthquake area was because China did not create an adequate seismic design code until after the devastating 1976 Tangshan earthquake. DesRoches said: "If the buildings were older and built prior to that 1976 earthquake, chances are they weren't built for adequate earthquake forces."

qas: question: What happened days following the disaster?
answers: text: an international reconnaissance team of engineers was dispatched to the region

question: What did the team of engineers do?
answers: text: make a detailed preliminary survey of damaged buildings

question: What did their findings show?
answers: text: a variety of reasons why many constructions failed to withstand the earthquake.

question: After the quake what kind of international team was sent to the area?
answers: text: team of engineers

question: What was the team sent to China to make?
answers: text: survey of damaged buildings

question: What kind of reasons do their findings show?
answers: text: variety of reasons
context: In the days following the disaster, an international reconnaissance team of engineers was dispatched to the region to make a detailed preliminary survey of damaged buildings. Their findings show a variety of reasons why many constructions failed to withstand the earthquake.

qas: question: What areas were the hardest hit?
answers: text: the poorer, rural villages

question: Who was an assistant professor of civil engineering and geophysics at the California Institute of Technology?
answers: text: Swaminathan Krishnan

question: What part of China did the earthquake occur in?
answers: text: rural part

question: What did Swaminathan Krishnan mean when he said the buildings were just built?
answers: text: not designed

question: What manner of building codes are there in China?
answers: text: very strong

question: What were many of these old buildings built without?
answers: text: regulations
context: News reports indicate that the poorer, rural villages were hardest hit. Swaminathan Krishnan, assistant professor of civil engineering and geophysics at the California Institute of Technology said: "the earthquake occurred in the rural part of China. Presumably, many of the buildings were just built; they were not designed, so to speak." Swaminathan Krishnan further added: "There are very strong building codes in China, which take care of earthquake issues and seismic design issues. But many of these buildings presumably were quite old and probably were not built with any regulations overseeing them."

qas: question: What is an estimate of the economic loss from the quake?
answers: text: $75 billion

question: What damage did the major Sichuan cities have?
answers: text: minor damage

question: What is an estimate of losses to economics?
answers: text: US$75 billion

question: Whose is this one of the costliest disasters in history of?
answers: text: Chinese history

question: Which cities in Sichuan had minor damage?
answers: text: five largest cities
context: Even with the five largest cities in Sichuan suffering only minor damage from the quake, some estimates of the economic loss run higher than US$75 billion, making the earthquake one of the costliest natural disasters in Chinese history.

qas: question: How many buildings collapsed as a result of the May 27th aftershocks?
answers: text: 420,000

question: How strong was the May 25 aftershock in Qingchuan county?
answers: text: 6.0 Mw

question: How many people were injured in the May 25 aftershock?
answers: text: 1000

question: How many homes were destroyed because of the May 27 aftershocks?
answers: text: more than 420,000

question: During the May 27 aftershock, how many people were injured?
answers: text: 63

question: Where was the aftershock of August 5 that caused widespread hill slides?
answers: text: Qingchuan, Sichuan
context: Strong aftershocks continued to strike even months after the main quake. On May 25, an aftershock of 6.0 Mw (6.4 Ms according to CEA) hit northeast of the original earthquake's epicenter, in Qingchuan County, Sichuan, causing eight deaths, 1000 injuries, and destroying thousands of buildings. On May 27, two aftershocks, one 5.2 Mw in Qingchuan County and one 5.7 Mw in Ningqiang County, Shaanxi, led to the collapse of more than 420,000 homes and injured 63 people. The same area suffered two more aftershocks of 5.6 and 6.0 Ms (5.8 and 5.5 Mw, respectively, according to USGS) on July 23, resulting in 1 death, 6 serious injuries, collapse of hundreds of homes and damaging kilometers of highways. Pingwu County and Beichuan County, Sichuan, also northeast of Wenchuan and close to the epicenter of a 7.2 Ms earthquake in 1976, suffered a 6.1 Ms aftershock (5.7 Mw according to USGS) on August 1; it caused 2 deaths, 345 injuries, collapse of 707 homes, damages to over 1,000 homes, and blocked 25 kilometres (16 mi) of country roads. As late as August 5, yet another aftershock of 6.1 Ms (6.2 Mw according to USGS) hit Qingchuan, Sichuan, causing 1 death, 32 injuries, telecommunication interruptions, and widespread hill slides blocking roads in the area including a national highway.

qas: question: Who was the executive vice governor?
answers: text: Wei Hong

question: How many homes were rebuilt?
answers: text: 200,000

question: How many homes were left without permanent shelter?
answers: text: 1.94 million

question: How many schools were reconstructed?
answers: text: 1,300

question: Who spoke about the dead and missing people on November 21, 2008?
answers: text: Wei Hong

question: How many people did Wei Hong say were dead or missing?
answers: text: 90,000

question: How many homes had been rebuilt?
answers: text: 200,000

question: How many houses were still under construction?
answers: text: 685,000

question: How many families were still without permanent homes?
answers: text: 1.94 million
context: Executive vice governor Wei Hong confirmed on November 21, 2008 that more than 90,000 people in total were dead or missing in the earthquake. He stated that 200,000 homes had been rebuilt, and 685,000 were under reconstruction, but 1.94 million households were still without permanent shelter. 1,300 schools had been reconstructed, with initial relocation of 25 townships, including Beichuan and Wenchuan, two of the most devastated areas. The government spent $441 billion on relief and reconstruction efforts.

qas: question: Who flew to the earthquake area 90 minutes after it hit?
answers: text: Premier Wen Jiabao

question: What was Premier Wen Jiabao's background in?
answers: text: geomechanics

question: What did Jiabao oversee in the region?
answers: text: the rescue work

question: How many troops were dispatched by the Chengdu military?
answers: text: 50,000

question: How soon after the earthquake was Premier Wen Jiabao on his way to the area?
answers: text: 90 minutes after

question: How many medical teams were sent to Wenchuan county?
answers: text: ten

question: How many troops were sent to the area for relief work?
answers: text: 50,000

question: Besides the rough terrain, why was it difficult to get to the area?
answers: text: proximity of the quake's epicenter
context: General Secretary and President Hu Jintao announced that the disaster response would be rapid. Just 90 minutes after the earthquake, Premier Wen Jiabao, who has an academic background in geomechanics, flew to the earthquake area to oversee the rescue work. Soon afterward, the Ministry of Health said that it had sent ten emergency medical teams to Wenchuan County. On the same day, the Chengdu Military Region Command dispatched 50,000 troops and armed police to help with disaster relief work in Wenchuan County. However, due to the rough terrain and close proximity of the quake's epicenter, the soldiers found it very difficult to get help to the rural regions of the province.

qas: question: What did the National Disaster Relief Commission initiate?
answers: text: Level II emergency contingency plan

question: What does a Level II emergency contingency plan cover?
answers: text: the most serious class of natural disasters

question: When did the plan rise to Level I?
answers: text: at 22:15 CST, May 12

question: What level alert was instated for the quake?
answers: text: Level II emergency

question: What class of disasters is a level II emergency?
answers: text: most serious

question: What level was the disaster set at 22:15 CST, May 12?
answers: text: Level II

question: What department initiated the emergency contingency plan?
answers: text: National Disaster Relief Commission
context: The National Disaster Relief Commission initiated a "Level II emergency contingency plan", which covers the most serious class of natural disasters. The plan rose to Level I at 22:15 CST, May 12.

qas: question: How many people were in the earthquake emergency relief team?
answers: text: 184

question: How many of the relief team were from the State Seismological Bureau?
answers: text: 12

question: How many of the team were from the military?
answers: text: 150

question: How many of the team were from the police?
answers: text: 22

question: What kind of team left Beijing to go to Wenchuan?
answers: text: earthquake emergency relief

question: How many people comprised the relief team?
answers: text: 184

question: How many soldiers were from the Beijing Military?
answers: text: 150

question: Where did 22 of the relief team come from?
answers: text: Armed Police General Hospital

question: How did the relief team travel to Wenchuan county?
answers: text: in two military transport planes
context: An earthquake emergency relief team of 184 people (consisting of 12 people from the State Seismological Bureau, 150 from the Beijing Military Area Command, and 22 from the Armed Police General Hospital) left Beijing from Nanyuan Airport late May 12 in two military transport planes to travel to Wenchuan County.

qas: question: What did the China Digital Times report?
answers: text: a close analysis by an alleged Chinese construction engineer

question: Who was the construction engineer known as?
answers: text: Book Blade

question: Where was an article reported about the scandal?
answers: text: China Digital Times

question: What was the name of the person who published a report in the China Digital Times?
answers: text: Book Blade
context: In the China Digital Times an article reports a close analysis by an alleged Chinese construction engineer known online as “Book Blade” (书剑子), who stated:

qas: question: What was June 1, 2008 called?
answers: text: Children's Day

question: Where were most of the surviving children?
answers: text: living in relief centres

question: What did these children do on that day?
answers: text: performed ceremonies

question: Where did parents go to mourn their children?
answers: text: rubble of schools

question: When is Children's Day?
answers: text: June 1

question: Where were surviving children living?
answers: text: in relief centres
context: On Children's Day, June 1, 2008, many parents went to the rubble of schools to mourn for their children. The surviving children, who were mostly living in relief centres, performed ceremonies marking the special day, but also acknowledging the earthquake.

qas: question: How much did central state-owned enterprises donate?
answers: text: more than $48.6 million

question: How much did China National Petroleum Corp and Sinopec donate?
answers: text: 10 million yuan

question: How much have Central state enterprises donated?
answers: text: 48.6 million

question: How much did China National Petroleum and Sinopec donate?
answers: text: 10 million yuan each
context: Central State-owned enterprises have accumulatively donated more than $48.6 million. China National Petroleum Corp and Sinopec donated 10 million yuan each to the disaster area.

qas: question: How much did China receive in donated money and goods?
answers: text: $457 million

question: How many countries donated?
answers: text: 19 countries

question: How many international organizations donated?
answers: text: four

question: What country was the largest aid donor to China?
answers: text: Saudi Arabia

question: How much financial assistance did Saudi Arabia give China?
answers: text: €40,000,000

question: How much money was donated from foreign sources?
answers: text: 83 million

question: What country was the largest aid donor to China?
answers: text: Saudi Arabia

question: How many international organizations made donations?
answers: text: four
context: On May 16 China stated it had also received $457 million in donated money and goods for rescue efforts so far, including $83 million from 19 countries and four international organizations. Saudi Arabia was the largest aid donor to China, providing close to €40,000,000 in financial assistance, and an additional €8,000,000 worth of relief materials.

qas: question: What did the State Council establish in 2008?
answers: text: a counterpart support plan

question: How long did the plan last?
answers: text: 3 years

question: What did the state council set up in 2008?
answers: text: counterpart support plan

question: What is the basis for this plan?
answers: text: one province to one affected county

question: How long is the plan due to last?
answers: text: 3 years

question: What is the cost per province's budget?
answers: text: one percent
context: In 2008, State Council established a counterpart support plan (《汶川地震灾后恢复重建对口支援方案》). The plan is to arrange 19 eastern and central province and municipalitie to help 18 counties, on "one province to one affected county" basis. The plan spanned 3 years, and cost no less than one percent of the province or municipality's budget.

qas: question: What was concluded about the construction?
answers: text: that the sudden shift of a huge quantity of water into the region could have relaxed the tension between the two sides of the fault, allowing them to move apart, and could have increased the direct pressure on it, causing a violent rupture

question: What structure did an article contemplate could have caused the quake?
answers: text: Zipingpu Dam

question: What was the affect of the dam on the stresses in that area?
answers: text: 25 times more

question: Who disregarded warnings about dams in the area?
answers: text: The government

question: What type of area is Sichuan?
answers: text: seismically active

question: What have researchers been denied?
answers: text: access to seismological and geological data
context: An article in Science suggested that the construction and filling of the Zipingpu Dam may have triggered the earthquake. The chief engineer of the Sichuan Geology and Mineral Bureau said that the sudden shift of a huge quantity of water into the region could have relaxed the tension between the two sides of the fault, allowing them to move apart, and could have increased the direct pressure on it, causing a violent rupture. The effect was "25 times more" than a year's worth of natural stress from tectonic movement. The government had disregarded warnings about so many large-scale dam projects in a seismically active area. Researchers have been denied access to seismological and geological data to examine the cause of the quake further.

qas: question: What did the earthquake allow?
answers: text: opportunities for researchers to retrofit data in order to model future earthquake predictions

question: What did the professors predict?
answers: text: the time of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake

question: What did they try to establish?
answers: text: time prediction method

question: What did they collect to use in this method?
answers: text: statistics
context: The earthquake also provided opportunities for researchers to retrofit data in order to model future earthquake predictions. Using data from the Intermagnet Lanzhou geomagnetic observatory, geologists Lazo Pekevski from the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje in Macedonia and Strachimir Mavrodiev from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences attempted to establish a "time prediction method" through collecting statistics on geomagnetism with tidal gravitational potential. Using this method, they were said to have predicted the time of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake with an accuracy of ±1 day. The same study, however, acknowledges the limitation of earthquake prediction models, and does not mention that the location of the quake could be accurately predicted.

qas: question: What was stated in the press conference?
answers: text: that earthquake prediction was a global issue

question: What do many geologists believe about earthquake prediction?
answers: text: no proven methods exist

question: What kind of issue is earthquake prediction?
answers: text: a global issue

question: What was received before the quake occurred?
answers: text: no prediction notification

question: What did  seismologist Gary Gibson have to say about the prediction of the quake?
answers: text: did not see anything
context: In a press conference held by the State Council Information Office the day after the earthquake, geologist Zhang Xiaodong, deputy director of CEA's Seismic Monitoring Network Center, restated that earthquake prediction was a global issue, in the sense that no proven methods exist, and that no prediction notification was received before the earthquake. Seismologist Gary Gibson of Monash University in Australia told Deutsche Presse-Agentur that he also did not see anything that could be regarded as having 'predicted' the earthquake's occurrence.

qas: question: When was a Seismic Risk Analysis published?
answers: text: In 2002

question: Who published the Seismic Risk Analysis?
answers: text: Chen Xuezhong

question: Who published a Seismic Risk Analysis Study?
answers: text: Chen Xuezhong

question: In what year did Chen Xuezhong publish an earthquake study?
answers: text: 2002

question: What strength did he predict the next quake in Sichuan to be?
answers: text: over 7.0
context: In 2002, Chinese geologist Chen Xuezhong published a Seismic Risk Analysis study in which he came to the conclusion that beginning with 2003, attention should be paid to the possibility of an earthquake with a magnitude of over 7.0 occurring in Sichuan region. He based his study on statistical correlation. That Sichuan is a seismically active area has been discussed for years prior to the quake, though few studies point to a specific date and time.

qas: question: How long had it been since an earthquake of similar magnitude?
answers: text: over 30 years

question: How long since the Sichuan area has had  a severe quake?
answers: text: 30 years

question: Does the scientific community agree that earthquake prediction is possible?
answers: text: no consensus

question: People wanted to know if the study of what math could produce better predictions?
answers: text: statistics

question: What is not an established science?
answers: text: Earthquake prediction
context: The earthquake was the worst to strike the Sichuan area in over 30 years. Following the quake, experts and the general public sought information on whether or not the earthquake could have been predicted in advance, and whether or not studying statistics related to the quake could result in better prediction of earthquakes in the future. Earthquake prediction is not yet established science; there was no consensus within the scientific community that earthquake "prediction" is possible.

qas: question: What department was ready to join the rescue effort by Wednesday?
answers: text: the Taipei Fire Department

question: How many Tibetan villagers were stranded?
answers: text: over 300

question: What was the reason that many rescue teams could not join the relief efforts?
answers: text: the traffic problem

question: What action did the Red Cross recommend ?
answers: text: donating cash

question: What problem continued to stop rescue teams from reaching affected areas?
answers: text: landslides

question: Where were the soldiers under commander Yang Wenyao trying to go?
answers: text: Tibetan village of Sier
context: Many rescue teams, including that of the Taipei Fire Department from Taiwan, were reported ready to join the rescue effort in Sichuan as early as Wednesday. However, the Red Cross Society of China said that (on May 13) "it was inconvenient currently due to the traffic problem to the hardest hit areas closest to the epicenter." The Red Cross Society of China also stated that the disaster areas need tents, medical supplies, drinking water and food; however it recommended donating cash instead of other items, as it had not been possible to reach roads that were completely damaged or places that were blocked off by landslides. Landslides continuously threatened the progress of a search and rescue group of 80 men, each carrying about 40 kg of relief supplies, from a motorized infantry brigade under commander Yang Wenyao, as they tried to reach the ethnically Tibetan village of Sier at a height of 4000 m above sea level in Pingwu county. The extreme terrain conditions precluded the use of helicopter evacuation, and over 300 of the Tibetan villagers were stranded in their demolished village for five days without food and water before the rescue group finally arrived to help the injured and stranded villagers down the mountain.

qas: question: What natural disasters were occurring in Wenchuan County?
answers: text: landslides

question: How many helicopters were deployed?
answers: text: 20

question: How many militia reservists joined in on rescue efforts?
answers: text: 15,600

question: How many survivors were found?
answers: text: around 3,000

question: How many troops parachuted into Mao County?
answers: text: 15

question: What were the biggest difficulties in reaching affected areas?
answers: text: heavy rain and landslides

question: How many helicopters were sent to deliver aid to the affected areas?
answers: text: 20

question: By May 13, how many troops had been added to the rescue efforts?
answers: text: 15,600

question: How people were reported to be survivors in Yingxiu Town?
answers: text: around 3,000

question: How many persons were still unaccounted for in Yingxiu?
answers: text: around 9,000
context: Persistent heavy rain and landslides in Wenchuan County and the nearby area badly affected rescue efforts. At the start of rescue operations on May 12, 20 helicopters were deployed for the delivery of food, water, and emergency aid, and also the evacuation of the injured and reconnaissance of quake-stricken areas. By 17:37 CST on May 13, a total of over 15,600 troops and militia reservists from the Chengdu Military Region had joined the rescue force in the heavily affected areas. A commander reported from Yingxiu Town, Wenchuan, that around 3,000 survivors were found, while the status of the other inhabitants (around 9,000) remained unclear. The 1,300 rescuers reached the epicenter, and 300 pioneer troops reached the seat of Wenchuan at about 23:30 CST. By 12:17 CST, May 14, 2008, communication in the seat of Wenchuan was partly revived. On the afternoon of May 14, 15 Special Operations Troops, along with relief supplies and communications gear, parachuted into inaccessible Mao County, northeast of Wenchuan.

qas: question: What did Premier Wen Jiabao order?
answers: text: the deployment of an additional 90 helicopters

question: How many helicopters were provided by the PLAAF?
answers: text: 60

question: How many helicopter were to be provided by the civil aviation industry?
answers: text: 30

question: How many aircraft were there in total?
answers: text: over 150

question: What is the total number of aircraft used in the relief operation?
answers: text: over 150

question: How many helicopters came from the PLAAF?
answers: text: 60

question: Who provided the other 30 helicopters?
answers: text: civil aviation industry

question: What kind of operation did this massing of aircraft produce?
answers: text: non-combat airlifting
context: By May 15, Premier Wen Jiabao ordered the deployment of an additional 90 helicopters, of which 60 were to be provided by the PLAAF, and 30 were to be provided by the civil aviation industry, bringing the total of number of aircraft deployed in relief operations by the air force, army, and civil aviation to over 150, resulting in the largest non-combat airlifting operation in People's Liberation Army history.

qas: question: What Foundation wanted to aid Beijing?
answers: text: the Tzu Chi Foundation

question: Where was the foundation based?
answers: text: Taiwan

question: When did Beijing agree to aid from Taiwan?
answers: text: late on May 13

question: What was the first group from outside China to join in the relief operation?
answers: text: Tzu Chi Foundation

question: What did China say they would accept?
answers: text: international help

question: What did China need help for?
answers: text: cope with the quake
context: Beijing accepted the aid of the Tzu Chi Foundation from Taiwan late on May 13. Tzu Chi was the first force from outside the People's Republic of China to join the rescue effort. China stated it would gratefully accept international help to cope with the quake.

qas: question: Who made a direct chartered cargo flight?
answers: text: China Airlines

question: What date did the cargo flight leave?
answers: text: May 15

question: When did a rescue team depart?
answers: text: May 16

question: How did the move the relief supplies from Taiwan to the stricken area?
answers: text: chartered cargo flight

question: From what airport did the chartered flight leave?
answers: text: Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport

question: Where did the chartered flight from Taiwan land?
answers: text: Chengdu

question: What Red Cross team left Taipei on May 16
answers: text: rescue team

question: Where did the Red Cross team from Taiwan land?
answers: text: Chengdu
context: A direct chartered cargo flight was made by China Airlines from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport sending some 100 tons of relief supplies donated by the Tzu Chi Foundation and the Red Cross Society of Taiwan to the affected areas. Approval from mainland Chinese authorities was sought, and the chartered flight departed Taipei at 17:00 CST, May 15 and arrived in Chengdu by 20:30 CST. A rescue team from the Red Cross in Taiwan was also scheduled to depart Taipei on a Mandarin Airlines direct chartered flight to Chengdu at 15:00 CST on May 16.

qas: question: What did the US share?
answers: text: satellite images of the quake-stricken areas

question: Who did the US share the satellite images with?
answers: text: Chinese authorities

question: How many Chinese troops were involved in the rescue efforts?
answers: text: 135,000

question: When did groups from South Korea, Japan, and others arrive in China?
answers: text: May 16

question: What did the U.S. share with China?
answers: text: satellite images

question: What was included in the the Air Force C-17 supplies?
answers: text: tents and generators

question: How many Chinese troops and medics were involved in the relief efforts?
answers: text: 135,000
context: On May 16, rescue groups from South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Russia and Taiwan arrived to join the rescue effort. The United States shared some of its satellite images of the quake-stricken areas with Chinese authorities. During the weekend, the US sent into China two U.S. Air Force C-17's carrying supplies, which included tents and generators. Xinhua reported 135,000 Chinese troops and medics were involved in the rescue effort across 58 counties and cities.

qas: question: What was extensively used to pass information to aid rescue and recovery efforts?
answers: text: The Internet

question: What did the Xinhua news agency set up?
answers: text: an online rescue request center

question: What was the purpose of this online rescue request center?
answers: text: to find the blind spots of disaster recovery

question: Where did rescue helicopters have trouble landing?
answers: text: Wenchuan

question: What was used as a communications aid in the relief efforts?
answers: text: The Internet

question: Who set up an online site to focus on blind spots in recovery?
answers: text: news agency Xinhua

question: What person suggested a landing spot for helicopters near the epicenter?
answers: text: a student

question: What kind of information were websites set up to store?
answers: text: contact information

question: On what date did a rescue helicopter crash with no survivors?
answers: text: May 31
context: The Internet was extensively used for passing information to aid rescue and recovery efforts. For example, the official news agency Xinhua set up an online rescue request center in order to find the blind spots of disaster recovery. After knowing that rescue helicopters had trouble landing into the epicenter area in Wenchuan, a student proposed a landing spot online and it was chosen as the first touchdown place for the helicopters[not in citation given]. Volunteers also set up several websites to help store contact information for victims and evacuees. On May 31, a rescue helicopter carrying earthquake survivors and crew members crashed in fog and turbulence in Wenchuan county. No-one survived.

qas: question: What was done for the anniversary?
answers: text: a moment of silence

question: Where did the government open access to?
answers: text: the sealed ruins of the Beichuan county seat

question: How long was it opened for?
answers: text: three days

question: What did China do to mark the first anniversary of the quake?
answers: text: a moment of silence

question: What will the Beichuan county seat be used for?
answers: text: earthquake relic museum

question: What kind of event were given to raise money for quake survivors?
answers: text: several concerts

question: What is the Beichuan museum meant to remind people of?
answers: text: the terrible disaster
context: On May 12, 2009, China marked the first anniversary of the quake with a moment of silence as people across the nation remembered the dead. The government also opened access to the sealed ruins of the Beichuan county seat for three days, after which it will be frozen in time as a state earthquake relic museum, to remind people of the terrible disaster. There were also several concerts across the country to raise money for the survivors of the quake.

qas: question: What was also donated?
answers: text: blood

question: What companies received the money?
answers: text: China Unicom and China Mobile

question: After the quake, people from where in China made donations?
answers: text: all over mainland China

question: What caused long lines in most major cities?
answers: text: donated blood

question: What were the Chinese setting up to take in donations?
answers: text: booths

question: How did a lot of people donate using mobile phones?
answers: text: text messaging

question: How much had the Chinese government designated by May 16?
answers: text: $772 million
context: Following the earthquake, donations were made by people from all over mainland China, with booths set up in schools, at banks, and around gas stations. People also donated blood, resulting in according to Xinhua long line-ups in most major Chinese cities. Many donated through text messaging on mobile phones to accounts set up by China Unicom and China Mobile By May 16, the Chinese government had allocated a total of $772 million for earthquake relief so far, up sharply from $159 million from May 14.

qas: question: How many tents were flown to the region?
answers: text: 557

question: How many quilts were flown to the region?
answers: text: 2,500

question: How much were both supplies worth?
answers: text: 788,000 yuan

question: What county were the supplies flown to?
answers: text: Wenchuan County

question: How many tents did the Sichuan Ministry provide for the homeless?
answers: text: 30,000

question: What group took tents and quilts to Wenchuan county?
answers: text: Red Cross Society of China

question: How much has the Amity Foundation designated for disaster relief?
answers: text: US$143,000

question: How many tents did the Sichuan Ministry of Affairs provide?
answers: text: 30,000

question: What were all these tents and quilts for?
answers: text: those left homeless

question: What foundation had already begun relief work in the area?
answers: text: The Amity Foundation
context: The Red Cross Society of China flew 557 tents and 2,500 quilts valued at 788,000 yuan (US$113,000) to Wenchuan County. The Amity Foundation already began relief work in the region and has earmarked US$143,000 for disaster relief. The Sichuan Ministry of Civil Affairs said that they have provided 30,000 tents for those left homeless.

qas: question: How many schoolrooms collapsed in the quake?
answers: text: 7,000

question: What catch-phrase was invented as a result of collapsed schools?
answers: text: tofu-dregs schoolhouses

question: Why did so many schools collapse during the earthquake?
answers: text: inadequately engineered

question: What are the estimations of how many schoolrooms collapsed?
answers: text: over 7,000

question: What has the citizenry started calling these type of schools?
answers: text: tofu-dregs schoolhouses

question: What can illegal children be registered as in place of their dead siblings?
answers: text: legal replacements
context: The central government estimates that over 7,000 inadequately engineered schoolrooms collapsed in the earthquake. Chinese citizens have since invented a catch phrase: "tofu-dregs schoolhouses" (Chinese: 豆腐渣校舍), to mock both the quality and the quantity of these inferior constructions that killed so many school children. Due to the one-child policy, many families lost their only child when schools in the region collapsed during the earthquake. Consequently, Sichuan provincial and local officials have lifted the restriction for families whose only child was either killed or severely injured in the disaster. So-called "illegal children" under 18 years of age may be registered as legal replacements for their dead siblings; if the dead child was illegal, no further outstanding fines would apply. Reimbursement would not, however, be offered for fines that were already levied.

qas: question: What did CCTV-1 host on the evening of May 18th?
answers: text: four-hour program called The Giving of Love

question: Who was the show hosted by?
answers: text: Bai Yansong

question: How large were the donations from the program?
answers: text: Donations of the evening totalled 1.5 billion Chinese Yuan

question: How much did Jackie Chan donate to support?
answers: text: $1.57 million

question: What was the name of the music video that Jackie Chan made for the event?
answers: text: Promise

question: What was the program that CCTV-1 hosted?
answers: text: The Giving of Love

question: What did the donations total for the program?
answers: text: US$208 million

question: What company gave the most?
answers: text: CCTV

question: How much did actor Jackie Chan donate?
answers: text: 1.57 million

question: What was the name of Chan's music video?
answers: text: Promise
context: On the evening of May 18, CCTV-1 hosted a special four-hour program called The Giving of Love (simplified Chinese: 爱的奉献; traditional Chinese: 愛的奉獻), hosted by regulars from the CCTV New Year's Gala and round-the-clock coverage anchor Bai Yansong. It was attended by a wide range of entertainment, literary, business and political figures from mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. Donations of the evening totalled 1.5 billion Chinese Yuan (~US$208 million). Of the donations, CCTV gave the biggest corporate contribution at ¥50 million. Almost at the same time in Taiwan, a similarly themed programme was on air hosted by the sitting president Ma Ying-jeou. In June, Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan, who donated $1.57 million to the victims, made a music video alongside other artists entitled "Promise"; the song was composed by Andy Lau. The Artistes 512 Fund Raising Campaign, an 8-hour fundraising marathon, was held on June 1 in Hong Kong; it was attended by some 200 Sinosphere musicians and celebrities. In Singapore, MediaCorp Channel 8 hosted a 'live' programme 让爱川流不息 to raise funds for the victims.

qas: question: What did a professor at the Peking University say about the handling of the earthquake?
answers: text: This is the first time [that] the Chinese media has lived up to international standards

question: What did Myanmar block after Cyclone Nargis?
answers: text: foreign aid

question: What did a Peking professor say about Chinese media coverage?
answers: text: up to international standards

question: Who praised Chinese media coverage as being democratic?
answers: text: Los Angeles Times

question: In which previous catastrophe not live up to international standards?
answers: text: 1976 Tangshan earthquake
context: Rescue efforts performed by the Chinese government were praised by western media, especially in comparison with Myanmar's blockage of foreign aid during Cyclone Nargis, as well as China's previous performance during the 1976 Tangshan earthquake. China's openness during the media coverage of the Sichuan earthquake led a professor at the Peking University to say, “This is the first time [that] the Chinese media has lived up to international standards”. Los Angeles Times praised China's media coverage of the quake of being "democratic".

qas: question: What formed behind blockages?
answers: text: quake lakes

question: How many quake lakes formed?
answers: text: 34

question: How many of the lakes were a danger to people?
answers: text: 28

question: What was the magnitude of the Sichuan earthquake?
answers: text: 7.9

question: What blocked many of the area's rivers?
answers: text: large landslides

question: What formed behind the blocked rivers?
answers: text: quake lakes

question: By May 27, how many earthquake lakes had formed up behind landslide debris?
answers: text: 34

question: What had to be evacuated due to potential flooding?
answers: text: Entire villages
context: As a result of the magnitude 7.9 earthquake and the many strong aftershocks, many rivers became blocked by large landslides, which resulted in the formation of "quake lakes" behind the blockages; these massive amounts of water were pooling up at a very high rate behind the natural landslide dams and it was feared that the blockages would eventually crumble under the weight of the ever-increasing water mass, potentially endangering the lives of millions of people living downstream. As of May 27, 2008, 34 lakes had formed due to earthquake debris blocking and damming rivers, and it was estimated that 28 of them were still of potential danger to the local people. Entire villages had to be evacuated because of the resultant flooding.

qas: question: Where was the most precarious quake lake located?
answers: text: Mount Tangjia in Beichuan County, Sichuan

question: How could you only get to this quake lake?
answers: text: by foot or air

question: What machinery was airlifted into the location?
answers: text: tractors

question: How many people were evacuated downstream?
answers: text: 200,000

question: What was the fear that caused 200,000 people to be evacuated from Mianyang?
answers: text: the dam bursting

question: Where was the worst of the quake lakes located?
answers: text: Mount Tangjia

question: Where is Mount Tangjia?
answers: text: Beichuan County, Sichuan

question: How many soldiers had to travel to the area by foot?
answers: text: 1,200
context: The most precarious of these quake-lakes was the one located in the extremely difficult terrain at Mount Tangjia in Beichuan County, Sichuan, accessible only by foot or air; an Mi-26T heavy lift helicopter belonging to the China Flying Dragon Special Aviation Company was used to bring heavy earthmoving tractors to the affected location. This operation was coupled with the work done by PLAAF Mi-17 helicopters bringing in PLA engineering corps, explosive specialists and other personnel to join 1,200 soldiers who arrived on site by foot. Five tons of fuel to operate the machinery was airlifted to the site, where a sluice was constructed to allow the safe discharge of the bottlenecked water. Downstream, more than 200,000 people were evacuated from Mianyang by June 1 in anticipation of the dam bursting.

qas: question: Who declared the mourning period?
answers: text: The State Council

question: What did the State Council declare a period of?
answers: text: national mourning

question: This was the biggest display of mourning since the death of who?
answers: text: Mao Zedong

question: When did the Chinese hold a moment of silence?
answers: text: May 19, 2008

question: What came to a halt during the moment of silence?
answers: text: Cars and trucks

question: How long was the national mourning for the quake victims to last?
answers: text: three-day period
context: The State Council declared a three-day period of national mourning for the quake victims starting from May 19, 2008; the PRC's National Flag and Regional Flags of Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions flown at half mast. It was the first time that a national mourning period had been declared for something other than the death of a state leader, and many have called it the biggest display of mourning since the death of Mao Zedong. At 14:28 CST on May 19, 2008, a week after the earthquake, the Chinese public held a moment of silence. People stood silent for three minutes while air defense, police and fire sirens, and the horns of vehicles, vessels and trains sounded. Cars and trucks on Beijing's roads also came to a halt. People spontaneously burst into cheering "Zhongguo jiayou!" (Let's go, China!) and "Sichuan jiayou" (Let's go, Sichuan!) afterwards.

qas: question: What was suspended for the duration of the mourning period?
answers: text: Olympic torch relay

question: Where was the relay scheduled to take place?
answers: text: Ningbo

question: What was suspended during the period of mourning?
answers: text: Beijing Olympic torch relay

question: Where was the torch relay supposed to take place?
answers: text: in Ningbo

question: What part of the relay did they change?
answers: text: The route

question: Where was there a minute of silence during the relay?
answers: text: Ruijin, Jiangxi
context: The Ningbo Organizing Committee of the Beijing Olympic torch relay announced that the relay, scheduled to take place in Ningbo during national morning, would be suspended for the duration of the mourning period. The route of the torch through the country was scaled down, and there was a minute of silence when the next leg started in city of Ruijin, Jiangxi on the Wednesday after the quake.

qas: question: What colors did many websites convert their home pages to?
answers: text: black and white

question: What did internet portals remove from their home pages?
answers: text: all advertisements

question: Many of what shut down completely?
answers: text: various gaming sites

question: What did the crowds in Tiananmen Square do after the moment of silence?
answers: text: burst out cheering

question: What business closed in Macau?
answers: text: Casinos
context: Many websites converted their home page to black and white; Sina.com and Sohu, major internet portals, limited their homepages to news items and removed all advertisements. Chinese video sharing websites Youku and Tudou displayed a black background and placed multiple videos showing earthquake footage and news reports. The Chinese version of MSN, cn.msn.com, also displayed banner ads about the earthquake and the relief efforts. Other entertainment websites, including various gaming sites, such as the Chinese servers for World of Warcraft, had shut down altogether, or had corresponding links to earthquake donations. After the moments of silence, in Tiananmen Square, crowds spontaneously burst out cheering various slogans, including "Long Live China". Casinos in Macau closed down.

qas: question: Who was the principal of Sangzao Middle School? 
answers: text: Ye Zhiping

question: What was the principal credited with?
answers: text: proactive action that spared the lives of all 2,323 pupils in attendance when the earthquake happened

question: How many students attended the school?
answers: text: 2,323

question: How much money was used to strengthen the construction of the school?
answers: text: 400,000 yuan

question: What school principal strengthened his school?
answers: text: Ye Zhiping

question: Where is the Sangzao Middle School?
answers: text: Sangzao

question: The Sangzao school is one of the biggest in what county?
answers: text: An County

question: How many years was Ye Zhiping involved in the school overhaul?
answers: text: three-year period
context: Ye Zhiping, the principal of Sangzao Middle School in Sangzao, one of the largest in An County, has been credited with proactive action that spared the lives of all 2,323 pupils in attendance when the earthquake happened. During a three-year period that ended in 2007, he oversaw a major overhaul of his school. During that time he obtained more than 400,000 yuan (US$60,000) from the county education department, money used to widen and strengthen concrete pillars and the balcony railing of all four storeys of his school, as well as secure its concrete floors.

qas: question: Why were the schools inspected?
answers: text: to gain first-hand material of construction quality

question: What was to be carried out at schools after the quake?
answers: text: safety checks

question: Who has joined an official inquiry into the school scandal?
answers: text: Chinese prosecutors

question: What investigation are the prosecutors pursuing?
answers: text: professional crime

question: Where are the Chinese going to perform safety checks?
answers: text: schools across China

question: What group reported that Chinese prosecutors were involved in investigating the schoolhouse collapses?
answers: text: Reuters
context: However, Reuters reported in June that, to date, Chinese prosecutors have joined an official inquiry into ten collapsed schools during May's devastating earthquake to gain first-hand material of construction quality at the collapsed schools, launch preliminary inquiries and prepare for possible investigations into professional crime. It was also reported that safety checks were to be carried out at schools across China after last month's earthquake.

qas: question: What was given in exchange of signing the document?
answers: text: money

question: What other methods were used to break up protests?
answers: text: riot police

question: Who did the New York Times report was investigating the school collapses?
answers: text: government officials

question: What are officials seeking to do about protesting parents?
answers: text: limit protests

question: What are officials offering parents in exchange of protests?
answers: text: money

question: What has happened to some who refuse to agree to not protest?
answers: text: were threatened

question: What did officials order Chinese news media to stop reporting?
answers: text: on school collapses
context: The New York Times reported that "government officials in Beijing and Sichuan have said they are investigating the collapses. In an acknowledgment of the weakness of building codes in the countryside, the National Development and Reform Commission said on May 27 that it had drafted an amendment to improve construction standards for primary and middle schools in rural areas. Experts are reviewing the draft, the commission said." To limit protests, officials pushed parents to sign a document, which forbade them from holding protests, in exchange of money, but some who refused to sign were threatened. The payment amounts varied from school to school but were approximately the same. In Hanwang, parents were offered a package valued at 8,800 USD in cash and a per-parent pension of nearly 5,600 USD. Furthermore, officials used other methods of silencing: riot police officers broke up protests by parents; the authorities set up cordons around the schools; and officials ordered the Chinese news media to stop reporting on school collapses.

qas: question: Who was a Sichuan school teacher?
answers: text: Liu Shaokun

question: What was Liu's family told?
answers: text: that he was being investigated on suspicion of the crime of inciting subversion

question: What was Liu Shaokun's profession?
answers: text: Sichuan school teacher

question: Why was he investigated?
answers: text: crime of inciting subversion

question: What did Liu Shankun do with the pictures he took of collapsed schools?
answers: text: put them online

question: Where did he call the schoolhouses shoddy?
answers: text: in a media interview

question: What was his assigned punishment ?
answers: text: one year of re-education
context: Besides parents, Liu Shaokun (刘绍坤), a Sichuan school teacher, was detained on June 25, 2008 for "disseminating rumors and destroying social order" about the Sichuan earthquake. Liu’s family was later told that he was being investigated on suspicion of the crime of inciting subversion. Liu had travelled to the Shifang, taken photos of collapsed school buildings, and put them online. He had also expressed his anger at “the shoddy tofu-dregs buildings” (豆腐渣工程) in a media interview. He was ordered to serve one year of re-education through labor (RTL). According to the organization Human Rights in China, Liu has been released to serve his RTL sentence outside of the labor camp.

qas: question: When did the sentencing occur?
answers: text: in 2007

question: When was the article published about the case?
answers: text: January 2010

question: What did he think that the poor construction led to?
answers: text: massive casualties
context: In January 2010, Hong Kong-based English newspaper The Standard reported that writer Tan Zuoren attempted to document shoddy construction that may have led to massive casualties in schools, was sentenced to in prison ostensibly for his writing an article in 2007 in support of the pro-democracy movement in 1989.

qas: question: What did UNICEF report?
answers: text: that China formally requested the support of the international community

question: What did foreign nations offer China because of the severity of the quake?
answers: text: condolences and assistance

question: When did China formally ask for help from the international community?
answers: text: May 14

question: What organization reported that China asked for help?
answers: text: UNICEF

question: Why did the world community notice the need for help?
answers: text: magnitude of the quake
context: Because of the magnitude of the quake, and the media attention on China, foreign nations and organizations immediately responded to the disaster by offering condolences and assistance. On May 14, UNICEF reported that China formally requested the support of the international community to respond to the needs of affected families.

qas: question: How much did Yao Ming donate?
answers: text: $214,000 and $71,000

question: How much did the Red Cross collect in donations?
answers: text: $26 million

question: How much money had been donated by May 14?
answers: text: 10.7 billion yuan

question: What group donated the 10.7 yuan?
answers: text: the Chinese public

question: What famous basketball player made two large donations to the crisis?
answers: text: Yao Ming

question: How much has the Red Cross Society  collected?
answers: text: 26 million
context: By May 14, the Ministry of Civil Affairs stated that 10.7 billion yuan (approximately US$1.5 billion) had been donated by the Chinese public. Houston Rockets center Yao Ming, one of the country's most popular sports icons, gave $214,000 and $71,000 to the Red Cross Society of China. The association has also collected a total of $26 million in donations so far. Other multinational firms located in China have also announced large amounts of donations.

qas: question: What did Francis Marcus say of the Chinese relief effort?
answers: text: swift and very efficient

question: What uncharacteristic attitude did China display?
answers: text: openness

question: What kind of attitude did Burma display in response to a cyclone a few days earlier?
answers: text: secretive

question: How long before the quake did Cyclone Nargis strike Burma?
answers: text: 10 days

question: What organization did Francis Marcus represent?
answers: text: International Federation of the Red Cross
context: Francis Marcus of the International Federation of the Red Cross praised the Chinese rescue effort as "swift and very efficient" in Beijing on Tuesday. But he added the scale of the disaster was such that "we can't expect that the government can do everything and handle every aspect of the needs". The Economist noted that China reacted to the disaster "rapidly and with uncharacteristic openness", contrasting it with Burma's secretive response to Cyclone Nargis, which devastated that country 10 days before the earthquake.

qas: question: What did stations replace programming with?
answers: text: live earthquake footage

question: What was the source of the live feeds?
answers: text: CCTV-1

question: What about pay TV channels?
answers: text: programmes suspended
context: All Mainland Chinese television stations (along with some stations in Hong Kong and expatriate communities) cancelled all regularly-scheduled programming, displayed their logo in grayscale, and replaced their cancelled programmes with live earthquake footage from CCTV-1 for multiple days after the quake. Even pay television channels (such as Channel V) had their programmes suspended.

qas: question: What government blocked aid after Cyclone Nargis?
answers: text: Myanmar

question: Over what scandal did the Chinese government lose in public opinion?
answers: text: school construction scandal

question: What was the Chinese government first praised for?
answers: text: response to the quake
context: Although the Chinese government was initially praised for its response to the quake (especially in comparison to Myanmar's ruling military junta's blockade of aid during Cyclone Nargis), it then saw an erosion in confidence over the school construction scandal.

qas: question: What did parents accuse builders of doing?
answers: text: cutting corners

question: As of July 17, 2008 what did parents complain of not receiving?
answers: text: any reports

question: What kind of stories were being censored in the media?
answers: text: poorly built schools
context: On May 29, 2008, government officials began inspecting the ruins of thousands of schools that collapsed, searching for clues about why they crumbled. Thousands of parents around the province have accused local officials and builders of cutting corners in school construction, citing that after the quake other nearby buildings were little damaged. In the aftermath of the quake, many local governments promised to formally investigate the school collapses, but as of July 17, 2008 across Sichuan, parents of children lost in collapsed schools complained they had yet to receive any reports. Local officials urged them not to protest but the parents demonstrated and demanded an investigation. Furthermore, censors discouraged stories of poorly built schools from being published in the media and there was an incident where police drove the protestors away.

qas: question: Who has ignored the school issue?
answers: text: state-controlled media

question: Who gave instructions to ignore the school issue?
answers: text: propaganda bureau

question: What media source has reported this happening?
answers: text: The AP
context: The AP reported that "The state-controlled media has largely ignored the issue, apparently under the propaganda bureau's instructions. Parents and volunteers who have questioned authorities have been detained and threatened."

qas: question: Why are the buildings so shoddily built?
answers: text: builders cut corners

question: What did builder's use in place of steel rods as re-inforcement?
answers: text: thin iron wires

question: Who was supposed to inspect building to see if they met national standards?
answers: text: supervising agencies
context: On May 15, 2008 Geoffery York of the Globeandmail.com reported that the shoddily constructed buildings are commonly called "tofu buildings" because builders cut corners by replacing steel rods with thin iron wires for concrete re-inforcement; using inferior grade cement, if any at all; and using fewer bricks than they should. One local was quoted in the article as saying that "the supervising agencies did not check to see if it met the national standards."

qas: question: Who has not been brought to justice?
answers: text: corrupt government officials

question: Who is still looking for compensation and justice?
answers: text: many families

question: What has the government threatened people with to keep them from protesting?
answers: text: threat of arrest

question: What media reported the threat of arrest?
answers: text: the Times

question: What did many families lose in the earthquake?
answers: text: their only child
context: However questions still remain, as some of the corrupt government officials have still not been brought to justice, while the many families who lost their only child, are still seeking compensation and justice to what had happened. According to the Times, many parents were warned by the government not to stage a protest under the threat of arrest.