Death toll in China earthquake rises to 7,600

[maco]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/C...SITE=CODER&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake has struck the central Chinese province, Sichuan.

The large earthquake struck after midday. The epicenter was 90 kilometers from the Sichuan provincial capital, Chengdu.

The powerful quake was felt as far away as Beijing, 1500 kilometers to the north, as well as in Bangkok, Thailand 3300 kilometers to the south.

[Paul F.]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080512/ap_o...thquake_28

The official Xinhua News Agency said 80 percent of the buildings had collapsed in Beichuan county in Sichuan province after the 7.8-magnitude quake, raising fears the overall death toll could increase sharply.

A 7.8 is a whopper... and if they're saying that 80% of the buildings collapsed, then the death toll is going to be a LOT higher before the counting is done.

:-(

[threeprong]

I wish I was there to help.

...at least six schools toppled... Makes me ache.



"China's deadliest earthquake in modern history struck the northeastern city of Tangshan on July 28, 1976, killing 240,000 people."

[vision63]

I'm hoping that the response is full and is able to rescue as many people as possible during these early hours. I can only imagine what the situation is like there and in Myanmar.

[bazookaman]

[quote vision63]I'm hoping that the response is full and is able to rescue as many people as possible during these early hours. I can only imagine what the situation is like there and in Myanmar.
Yes, but will China allow international aid (if necessary)?

[vision63]

I doubt China would need International Aid, but if it came to that, I would hope they would.

[lost in space]

Early reports of this kind of catastrophe so often fall far short of the final number. It could easily hit 20,000 or more.

I just keep thinking about the families of the kids trapped in those schools.

[IronMac]

[quote lost in space]I just keep thinking about the families of the kids trapped in those schools.
Especially the one-child-per-family rule.