last updated May 23,2008- Earthquake in Sichuan, China
A magnitude 7.9 earthquake, the worst to hit China in 30 years, hit the southwestern province of Sichuan on Monday May 12. According to Chinese state news agency Xinhua, the latest confirmed death toll in the Sichuan province rose to 55,740, as of Friday May 23. Another 292,481 people were injured and 24,960 still missing. Officials said, with the increasing number of deaths and the summer approaching fast, the quake disaster regions are facing mounting pressure to prevent epidemics.The number of casualties was expected to rise due to the remoteness of the areas affected by the quake and difficulty in finding buried victims. Officials said that there was little prospect that many survivors would be found under the rubble.
Texas A&M student Heather Rauch was in Chengdu, Sichuan (about 37 miles from the epicenter) during the earthquake. She is fine. She did an interview with Good Morning America about the experience. Please note that she was described in the interview as a student from California because she was enrolled in a California based independent program, which ended in Shanghai last week. She was travelling for vacation post program and was in Chengdu during the quake. The interview can be viewed here.
The Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) at Texas A&M University is calling for donations for this cause. Please click here for details.
More news on the earthquake:Factbox from Reuters , Xinhua (for latest official updates), China earthquake in video, In pictures: China's grief, Quake Toll Up in China as Soldiers Reach Epicenter
How You Can Help
To support disaster relief in China, you could contact one of the following organizations:
The donation drive on Texas A&M campus
The Institute for Pacific Asia believes the organizations listed above have experience in disaster relief , and are therefore likely to be able to assist during this crisis. The list is by no means complete and the inclusion of an organization is neither an endorsement nor a guarantee that donations will be utilized effectively. Donors are urged to use their best judgment when deciding to contribute.
Candle-light Memorial for Earthquake Victims in Sichuan at Texas A &M on May 17
More news on the earthquake: Xinhua (for latest official updates), In pictures: China's grief, Quake Toll Up in China as Soldiers Reach Epicenter
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