Reader comments
China quake death toll rises to nearly 10,000

steven | 9:27 a.m. May 12, 2008

I am in Xian China right now which is just northeast of the epicenter of this quake. It happened about 2:30 this afternoon while we were in a meeting. The floor first began to slowly shake and then it gradually increased in intensity. Everyone in the room quickly ran out of the room and headed down two flights of stairs and ran outside. It continued for about another minute or two after we got out. We stood and watched the buildings surrounding us sway back and forth and most concerting were the cranes on top of unfinished buildings that swayed vigorously back and forth. We waited outside for about 30 minutes and went inside. We noticed one large crack in this new buildings first floor hallway. Later as we left there was thousands of people on the streets. The whole electrical grid had been knocked out. We also saw one crane that had collapsed and its arm dangled over a city street. We headed straight to our hotel where we knew there would be back up generators. The company we met with had a plant collapse about 100 miles from us.

Deepest Sympathies | 12:18 p.m. May 12, 2008

Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected!

steven | 3:17 p.m. May 12, 2008

I am emailing from Xian China just north of the epicenter of this earthquake. We were in a meeting when we began to feel the floor move and the table began to slowly shake. It began to intensify in the shaking and as it did everyone in the room rushed to the door and ran down to flights of stairs to an exit hallway. When we got outside the shaking continued for another minute or two and we stood watching the high rise buildings sway back and forth and most notably the under construction buildings with cranes swayed back and forth looking like they would topple. When it finally stopped everyone stayed outside for another 30 minutes. We went back inside and noted there was a large crack in the main hallway of the building we were in. There was no electricity either. We left shortly after and headed for our hotel where we thought there would be a back of generator. 10's of thousands of people lined the street and we noted some minor damage including a construction crane that had collapsed and was dangling over a city street. Our client had a building collapse 100 km away.

Comments continue below

DH | 4:05 p.m. May 12, 2008

My sister is over there right now....

Hope all is well

LM Post | 4:34 p.m. May 12, 2008

My son lives in Chengdu, and wrote this morning to say he's fine but still feeling severe aftershocks.

There are two small LDS groups in Chengdu (the Chinese Saints and the Western Saints aren't permitted -- by law -- to meet together), so I'll post information as he learns of everyone's whereabouts.

Eye opener | 4:43 p.m. May 12, 2008

The people I feel for. Maybe this will be an eye opener for their government restricting freedom.

Tibet is not free of China.

The people of China are not free to worship as they would.

The government of China will not prosper long so long as they attack freedom.

Anonymous | 6:25 p.m. May 12, 2008

You guys are really lucky atleast u can able to know your family's conditions but my case I am still unknown about my parents who are live in Tibet after closed the Tibet by CCP

LM Post | 6:31 p.m. May 12, 2008

My son just got off the phone with the group leader. All LDS people in Chengdu are fine. He's going out now to see who he can help.

He lives next door to the hospital emergency room. Says heavy rain started to fall this morning his time. People are on beds outside, and workers have put tarps over the makeshift hospital to keep them dry.

Pray for the rain to stop. It'll hamper rescue work.

Watching | 6:54 p.m. May 12, 2008

It will be interesting to see what our government offers and what the Chinese ask for in aid and relief. I feel sorry for the lower class people from that country, but couldn't care less about their wealthy and government officials. I hope we don't offer much as they are very-very self sustaining as a country. Send our condolences but nothing more. Check the records and see what they sent us when Katrina hit, and send the same amount and absolutely no more.

Anonymous | 8:41 p.m. May 12, 2008

Re: Watching
You should be ashamed of yourself! These are human beings we are talking about! It is so immature to say, "They didn't help us, so we aren't going to help them." Regardless of the fact that their government is terrible, there are thousands of people suffering over there. I think we need to offer whatever type of relief that we can.

Concerned | 9:08 p.m. May 12, 2008

I feel sorry for the poor class of people that didn't have much to begin with. But I am concerned that our give away government is going to offer aid and financial help.

Terri Dance Salisbury MO | 9:15 p.m. May 12, 2008

We'll see if this gets posted!! Response to comment by Anonymous 8:41pm.
Pray for the affected people and then dig down in your wallet--never your neighbors wallet through the medium of the US government's greedy grubby hand to "help others". The Federal Government has NO RIGHT to send our mortgaged tax dollars to any country for AID!! Don't you understand the Constitution. Don't you know China, PRC government has bought a HUGE amount of our Federal debt and is financing our entitlements and interest on the debt every minute!!! If you or anyone reading are LDS--wake up and smell the coffee or whatever--talk about the very elect deceived. We can voluntarily send whatever we want to help whomsoever we want but it is morally, legally and eternally wrong to confiscate our taxes from what their proper use is supposed to be and "compel" US taxpayers to give "aid" which aid to other nations is nothing more than a national bribe and rarely makes it to victims!!! Please read what the LDS leaders have taught about these issues.

sad | 10:13 p.m. May 12, 2008

What a horrible tragedy. I can hardly imagine what people are going through over there. God be with them.

Anonymous | 12:30 a.m. May 13, 2008

I tee feel for these people and send my sympathy to all who are in any way affected by this terrible tragedy.

Victor | 12:28 a.m. May 18, 2008

I was in China three times in the last two years to be with my wife and bring her to the USA. The People's Republic of China did nit restrict my behavior. I was welcome at every place I visited and got to know the people. The Chines government does allow relegion but the individual must registar with the government. Right there are 50 million Christain in China. Proselyting is not allowed. So people at times have home church services to invite others. This year a publishing house in China published 50 millon bibles in Chinese and 5 million in seven different languages.
Thier government and lifestyle is different but so is our's to them. Finding common ground is very important and then we can accept each other's difference more easily. If the CPR does not want our aid than we should not sent it, the same goes for Myammar. The US should stay out where it is not wanted and keep it's mouth shut.

Thoughtful | 5:49 p.m. May 19, 2008

I am sad to hear the bitterness in some of the posts. I agree you can not force aid on a people or a government. But I also feel that if the people desire it and the government is being evil and refusing it and donï¿½t care for their people, it is ok to keep trying to persuade that help may be accepted. If the help is not accepted ultimately it will be on the heads of those in charge who are making the decisions. As far as our government forcing us to give aid, by taking the money through taxes, I too feel this is wrong as it takes away our free agency. But I would also hope that all would feel a desire and compassion for those in need and help at whatever level they are able. Whether we are able to give millions or 2 mites. I feel prayer is also very appropriate and desprately needed, not only for those who are suffering, but for us who are watching, that we may have the strength and desire to fight for what is right and bless others around us.

Margie M. | 2:06 p.m. May 20, 2008

Wow. The last time I read the scriptures, it said to help EVERYONE you possibly can, despite what color they are, despite their social influence, despite past altercations. "I the Lord will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men".

If we are all LDS here, we have been taught that this nation will only remain blessed if we do God's work. So if our Govt. turns a blind eye on helping other people in emergencies, when it has the capabilities to help, that won't bode well for us, will it?

Out of all the places I've discussed these tragedies, I find it ironic that the only negativity I've heard toward helping has been from an LDS place.

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6 photos

AFP/Getty Images

Rescuers search the rubble of a collapsed building in Dujiangyan, in southwest China Sichuan province today after an earthquake measuring 7.8 rocked the province.

Gallery (6 photos)