An 80-year-old woman and her 16-year-old grandson emerged today from the rubble in northeastern Japan, nine days after the 9.0 earthquake that leveled their two-story house. The teen, Jin Abe, finally managed to pull himself out of the wreckage, and authorities spotted him waving for help from the collapsed roof in Ishinomaki. Rescuers had to call for back-up to free his grandmother, Sumi Abe, reports the AP.
Both were weak, but relatively unhurt and had survived on food in their refrigerator. Japanese television showed footage of Sumi Abe being removed from the house; she said she was unhurt and was able to give her name. Both Sumi and Jin Abe were taken to the hospital via helicopter. (More Japan earthquake stories.)