Feeling Beichuan, Day 5

Photo: Andy Wong/Associated Press

The relief effort has entered the most desperate phase now. Trapped survivors can only hold on so long. Beichuan is utterly gone being so close to the epicenter. There is no more Beichuan just mountains of rubble in what was once one of the world’s most beautiful valleys. The death toll is quickly climbing towards 50,000. The good news today is that the government has allowed international relief teams to enter into the disaster. [As Time Runs Out, Survivors Pulled From Quake Rubble, NYTimes]

What’s interesting is the government investigation on why so many schools were leveled by the quake. Neighboring buildings fared much better. It appears that those who built the schools used cheap materials. Go figure. China has long allowed short cuts like this for things going out but we can see that they’re paying the price for doing it within as well. What I find interesting is that even though there’s been mass destruction and loss of life they will probably execute those builders.

Whole graduating classes gone.

Members from our community/congregations are crying out for our church to do something. We feel responsible to take the lead in Chinatown to respond to the relief work. This is our moment to be a community leader. Pray that we will respond well.

Official Toll in Myanmar Reaches Nearly 78,000. Things haven’t gotten better in Burma. Many say the conditions have worsened. British officials saying the total dead and missing could be more than 200,000. [BBC News]