Catastrophe victims use blog posts to call in help

Social networks are playing a crucial role in the earthquake rescue operation as victims use blog posts to summon help and organizers stay in touch with frontline commanders over the Internet.

"Posts asking for help are an effective way to let us know what residents urgently need," said Zhang Li, who is coordinating rescue efforts by firefighters in the disaster zone at Ludian county, Zhaotong, Yunnan province.

The firefighters' headquarters in Kunming, the provincial capital, launched a micro-blogging service on Monday. So far it has received 58 posts asking for help from people in the epicenter, Longtoushan township, including 27 that came via the Sina Weibo platform.