As I’ve already posted my thoughts/experiences with today’s earthquake at my blog, I’ll not repeat them here – suffice to say, for me it was a bit of a non-event.
However, I am very curious to hear what your experiences were. I’ve therefore created this post as an open thread for any and all (Laowai or otherwise) to share their experience in regards to the earthquake that struck Sichuan earlier today, leaving thousands dead and being felt as far away as Beijing, Bangkok, Hanoi and Taipei.
Also – follow the Shanghaiist’s frequently updated coverage for the latest details.
Blogger Accounts
- Green Bamboo
- Barking at the Sun
- Steve’s China Blog
- Running Into Myself
- Old Bacon Road
- The 19th Step
- China Law Practice Blog
If you know of others, please post in the comments below.
How you can help
For those who are looking to contribute to current aid efforts underway, check out this post on China Crossroads. Also, you can now donate money to the Red Cross Society of China which has formed a disaster relief working group to be dispatched to the earthquake-stricken Wenchuan County in Sichuan.
They have also published an emergency relief hotline, along with bank account information to receive donations to assist their cause:
Account name: Red Cross Society of China
开户å•ä½ï¼šä¸å›½çº¢åå—会总会
For those who want to donate in RMB: you can send money to the RMB account at the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China branch below:
人民å¸å¼€æˆ·è¡Œ: ä¸å›½å·¥å•†é“¶è¡Œ 北京分行东四å—支行
人民å¸è´¦å·: 0200001009014413252
For those who want to donate in foreign currency, you can send money to the foreign currency account at the CITIC Bank branch below:
外å¸å¼€æˆ·è¡Œï¼šä¸ä¿¡é“¶è¡Œé…’仙桥支行
外å¸è´¦å·: 7112111482600000209
Hotline: (8610) 65139999
Online donations: Red Cross Society of China website: www.redcross.org.cn
Click the tab for online donations
h/t to Shanghaiist for reporting this.
Well…here in Kunming we’re safe and sound. I didn’t feel it either, even though we’re much closer to the epicenter than you are. Terrible news, and my wishes go out to the victims and their families.
Safe and sound here in Zhejiang Province, very far from the epicentre so not surprising. I have a friend in Chongqing,who is OK thank goodness.
This morning the death toll stands at around 10,000. My thoughts are with the people, families and the rescuers working to find survivors.
Here in Chengdu, it was shaking, dust, and flakes of plaster, but nothing compared with the damage which has affected places like Dujiangyan. Initially, I thought the quake would last a couple of seconds and then stop, but it got worse. I was ten minutes into class when it started. My students seemed to think it was a bit of a laugh and even rushed to the window before the potential seriousness of the situation had them evacuating the building.
My colleagues and I ended up outside Happy Glasses drinking beer and chatting to some guy who’d just arrived in town from Xi’an. There was a noticeable aftershock some time between 6 and 6.30; then one at 1.30am; and another at about 4.15am.
Woke up this morning to steady rain, but haven’t checked to see whether life’s back to normal or not. Suspect that quite a few places will remain closed today.
In Shanghai, we felt our building sway for about 30 seconds (we’re on the 19th floor). After that we evacuated for about 15 minutes, but that was it.
J.
@Mr. Bamboo – just read your blog about it. Crazy stuff. Am editing this post to add bloggers who have first-hand accounts, as well as links for how to help. Cheers for sharing.
Update: Footage from the epicenter for the quake – 11:30am – May 13. In Chinese, but you don’t need to understand the reporter to comprehend the devastation.
I’m in Lanzhou and I felt it for a little over two minutes… at first it was really nothing, I thought my wife was shaking her legs so hard the sofa was moving… after stuff on the walls started swaying we headed out… My biggest fear was the construction of this building… Made In China got me running…
As a side point, I’ve got money down on a house in Du Jiang Yan… Second thoughts have definitely kicked in…