I have a penpal I've been in contact with for several years attending college in Xi'an, Xaanxi. I wrote to her yesterday as soon as I found out... and here is her reply. Thought some of you might find it interesting: Hello, Laura Thank you. I'm okay. I slept at the playground last night with my friend. Earthquake happened at a county in Sichuang which is nearby our provience. It was really scared me, most of people are the same, I believed. Yesterday noon I was sleeping at the lab in seven floor of the lab building(I used to taking a nap at noon), suddendly was waked up by noise. I heared the strong whops of window and the door, and quickly I felt the bed was shaking severely. I had thought it was probably a strong wind. Someone shout outside:'Earthquake!". I didn't expect it was true but I ran out naturally. I ran into the washroom and hold the water pipe tightly. At that time I felt the building was wobbling, like on a ship. I thought probably the building would fall dowm at next second. I felt sick and giddy. Some people shouted," leave here, go downstairs." I followed them to go downstairs. Just when I was at the satirs, I still felt the shake. But it was more slghtly than one minute ago. When I left the building, everything seemed to become calm again. Lots of teachers and students were standing there. The communication stopped for several hours. I couldn't touch with my parents. My hometown is nearer to the spot. It is lucky that they are okay and they also slept outside last night. This earthquake is 7.8 Richter scale. About 30 years ago there was a 7.8 scale earthquake in China and nearly 300'000 people died. This time it is the same but it is at daytime. Hopfully the loss could be less. Up to now, it was said more than 9'000 people died and 60 thousands people disappeared. In one of county, 80% houses fall down. Currently the succor is difficult because all roads are destoried and the weather is very bad too. Air plane and helicopter couldn't land. But still there are many officers and soldiers walked to the places. Our premier also flied to sichuang half an hour later the earthquake. It is really a big earthquake this time. And nearly half of China felt it. It even arrived Tailand, Burma and Vietnam. Now all of the country is trying to rescue wounded person, trying to save people as more as possible. Many people were buried but still some are alive. So striving for time is very important now. Experiencing such an disaster, life becomes more percious in many people's mind. Take care Sherry
From what I've been hearing they're sleeping outside for fear of another earthquake. In some of the rural areas up to 80% of the buildings collapsed so they don't want to be in them in case there's another earthquake.
We've been watching on tv. Along with the Cyclone that hit Burma (Myanmar), It makes me now grateful for those annoying building codes and crabby building inspectors, eh? Thankfully the Chinese government is allowing help in (According to CNN). Not the case in Burma.. so sad.
I heard on the news that there were more than 300 aftershocks! I didn't hear the news until this evening. Our little family stopped and prayed for the people affected by this quake when we heard. How terribly scary for them.
