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With just ten days to go before the Mayan apocalypse
supposedly spells the end of the world, many believers may be looking
for ways to dodge doomsday.
But one farmer in China believes he is ready for any eventuality after
building seven emergency survival pods.
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Liu Qiyuan created the fibreglass shells - dubbed Noah's Ark - after
being inspired by the apocalyptic Hollywood movie 2012.
Building them around a steel frame in a yard at his home in the village
of Qiantun, Hebei province, south of Beijing, he says the pods can offer
life-saving shelter during natural disasters such as tsunamis and
hurricanes.
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The pods are able to float on water and some of have their own
propulsion.
The airtight spheres with varying interiors contain oxygen tanks and
seatbelts with space for around 14 people, and are designed to remain
upright when in water.
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He hopes that his creations will be adopted by government departments
and international organisations for use in the event of tsunamis and
earthquakes.
They are heavy and four men required to help pulley them when he needs
to move them across the yard.
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Earlier this year Chinese businessman Yang Zongfu unveiled his orange
£150,000 emergency disaster survival pod.
According to Yang, 'the reserve and life-sustaining system' inside the
yellow sphere 'could ensure a family of three live safely inside for 10
months'. |