Inktober 2025 - 21 - Blast

There is no way anything was able to survive this. The explosion was so big, its shock wave so intense, that there cannot possibly be anything left standing in its wake. But still, we persevere in our rescue efforts. We simply have to make sure. What if there were somebody buried under the rubble, somehow sheltered by an improbable and fortuitous congruence of destroyed architecture? What if they are somewhere out there, under all this waste, screaming for help, knocking as hard as they can on every surface they can get their hands on, praying and crying to whatever higher power there may or may not be that someone, anyone finds them?

It has not been long since the incident. We do not even know what caused it yet, nor where it originated. Is anyone responsible? Could somebody really wish for such destruction? Or maybe be careless enough to not take every precaution so it would not happen? The best case scenario is really that this was one of those terrible catastrophes that could not be avoided. It is the assumption we are operating on, because the thought of the other possibilities is too hard to bear at the moment. And we cannot be bothered by such questions right now anyway. Time is of the essence. If there is anyone trapped in this vast wasteland, there is a high likelihood of them being hurt and in need of urgent medical attention. The sooner we get to them, the better their chance of survival. And even if by some miracle they are unharmed, such confinement cannot be maintained for long. They will soon need food and water, and that is only assuming their air supply is not limited to begin with.

The volunteers are canvasing the area in a tight-knit formation, turning over every stone, every branch, every sheet of metal they come upon, calling out as they do. We have rescue dogs with us, but even their finely tuned senses struggle with all the dust and smoke still in the air. Besides, the ground is still unstable, on top of being riddled with broken glass and metal debris. We risk injury with every step. But what choice do we have? People have come from all over, sometimes kilometres away, to lend a hand. Some are still arriving now, some are probably still on the way. The more we are, the faster we can sweep through the affected area and make sure. We are aware that we have a very small chance of finding anyone alive, but we have to try. And even after we have located and rescued any and all survivors – or ascertained that sadly there are none –, we will then need to retrieve and identify the dead. It may not be a matter of as much urgency as what we are currently doing, but we will have to do it nonetheless. Even animals recognise death. This is what separates us from monsters. The turnout of helpers through this ordeal is a testament to our humanity.