As if what the continent of Asia has been facing with the deaths of the people of Burma (Myanmar) and the continued suffering there due to Cyclone Nargis, now the Aba region and so much of the Sichuan region in Western China is also experiencing their own disaster.
Unable to get through yesterday when news broke of the earthquake, this morning I was finally able to reach LanJie, my older sister in Chengdu. Thankfully, her and her family are safe and unharmed, although completely shaken. Even though the earthquake took place 58 miles north, damage has found it's way into Chengdu. This morning, LanJie told me of how she left yesterday to get something from her office only to come back to her classroom to crying students and cracks running up and down the walls. She told me that she felt nine aftershocks yesterday that has left people waiting for news of the dead, the rescued, and when they can continue on. Work has stopped and no one is allowed indoors, leaving people to sleep in their cars or outdoors if a car is not owned.
The toll is now close to 12,000.
I'm thankful that my family is safe, but there are many students that I have had over my two years in China that have family in the region and might even be there themselves.
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