MAY 13, 2008 | News
May 13, 2008
Chinese Earthquake kills over 12,000 people in Sichuan Province!
A magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck the southwest China province of Sichuan, killing at least 12,000 people and destroying as many as 3.5 million homes.
The state-run Chinese news agency Xinhua reports an estimated 900 students are buried under rubble in a high school near Dujiangyan.
The New York Times reports this is the deadliest quake to strike China since 1976.
FTH Hong Kong director, Armanda Da Roza, writes to say that "The affected area is quite wide. The most serious area is Beichuan - 7000 died, over 10,000 wounded, 80% of the buildings collapsed. City flattened. All incoming flights to Chengdu (the capital of Sichuan) not permitted to land. Some out going fights can take off. Tele communication lines just opened. A lot of schools collapsed in the affected areas."
FTH Hong Kong office is assessing how we can best assist survivors of this disaster.
More information will be posted as it comes to hand.
UPDATE: MAY 14, 2008
Our HK office has made contact with a Sichuan church, in one of the worst hit areas of Monday's earthquake. The pastor reports that many churches have collapsed. FTH has already sent $50,000HK to provide for urgently needed water. A medical team is from Hong Kong is also being dispatched. We are continuing to assess the situation to provide assistance where it is needed most. Updates to follow.
UPDATE: MAY 16, 2008
- More than 50,000 people are feared dead in southwest China's Sichuan Province alone after Monday's earthquake.
- The confirmed death toll in Sichuan was 19,509 by 4 p.m. Thursday, up by 5,046 from Wednesday's 14,463.
- Another 102,103 people were injured and 12,300 buried in the rubble.
- Rescuers have pulled 13,400 people alive out of the debris.
- 280 were killed in Gansu Province, 106 in Shaanxi Province, 14 in Chongqing Municipality, two in Henan Province, one in Yunnan Province and one in Hubei Province.
- Rescuers were racing against time to find survivors, the strong quake demolishing buildings and trapping tens of thousands beneath the rubble.
- 70 percent of the roads in the town damaged, and almost all bridges had collapsed
Feed the Hungry Hong Kong to Join Relief Operation
A relief team from Feed the Hungry will join the first HK Christian Medical Team to Sichuan's quake-stricken area - Deyang County.
The Hong Kong Christian Medical Team will join their mainland colleagues in ER and OP at a strategic government hospital. We are told that medical help is desperate as many are wounded and need urgent help. Medical supplies in Deyang County are almost completely depleted. Thus, the medical team will bring bulk supplies of medicine and medical equipment with them. The Feed the Hungry team will bring clean water, food and clothing and carry these supplies into the quake zone. We plan to visit people who still sleep in the street and distribute water and food, and bringing words of comfort and hope.
This is a unique opportunity to give directly into the hands of the needy, whether it is a medical need or a food need. Deyang County's suffering people need your help. Will you give to help to ease the pain of the suffering? Will you pray for them? Feed the Hungry and the Hong Kong Christian Medical Team also need your prayers. Your best gift is greatly appreciated.
UPDATE: MAY 16, 2008
FTH Hong Kong Director, Armanda Da Roza, has been in the city of Chengdu and surrounding villages since Sunday helping with relief efforts to earthquake survivors in the Sichuan region of China. She is overcome with stories of devastation, saying that everyone she talks with has either lost a loved one, lost their home and belongings, or both. One lady recounted that she was cooking when the earthquake struck, and although she managed to escape death it is of little comfort because her baby was killed.
Today's death toll stands at over 41,000, and over 5 million people have been left homeless by the quake and its severe aftershocks. Even today the threat of another tremor is high and many people are sleeping on the street out of fear.
In the past week FTH has distributed food, water, and medical supplies. Doctors and surgeons are part of the team that is helping to bring aid to the region. Armanda tells us that the most urgent need at the moment is to provide tents and plastic sheeting as temporary shelter for the millions who've lost their homes. Secondarily, the need for basic essentials like clothing and cooking utensils are also critical.
If you would like to donate to Feed the Hungry's China Earthquake Relief efforts, you can »» click here!
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