Earthquake in Qinghai

For the people that contacted me through email, call, or skype - thanks for the prayers and concerns! A few days ago, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit Qinghai (which neighbors Tibet) at 7:49am. We were not effected by it in my city.

The biggest concerns are still trying to rescue people from the rubble and getting supplies there. Its estimated that over 15,000 homes were flattened and thousands of people left in the cold. Temperatures are well below freezing (this time last year Rach and I took a weekend trip to Qinghai, I know that its freezing there right now). Thankfully the government and organizations are working fast to provide aid.

This morning, China Daily (our main newspaper here) stated: "The 7.1-magnitude quake which struck the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu Wednesday morning has left at least 1,706 dead, 256 missing and 12,128 injured."

A girl just pulled out from the rubble and rescued after 52 hours

Ninety-seven percent of Yushu's population is ethnic Tibetan, and state media said that 500 interpreters were being sent to aid rescuers to help with translating. All the articles I've read, says before the aid workers arrived, that the Tibetan monks were already fast at work rescuing people.

homes and buildings collapsed

Searching

A boy rescued

Thousands left with no homes and looking for family members

Rescue workers

Please continue to be praying for the people that were affected by this earthquake here and the workers still working to assist and rescue people. Because of the earthquake that hit Sichuan, the recent disasters around the world, and now this earthquake in Qinghai... its left a lot of people scared. Lately all the conversations I've had with friends are talking about this. Please be praying for them.