An earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck the Sichuan Province in China on May 12 at 2:28 pm local time. So far the death toll stands at 12,000 and the numbers are expected to rise sharply as rescuers approach the epicenter. 60,000 people are still unaccounted for, either missing or trapped under the debris. Tens of thousands of homes, factories, and offices have collapsed which killed many instantly, while burying others. The earthquake was so powerful that it sent people rushing out of buildings a thousand miles away in Beijing and Shanghai.

Landslides have wiped away several villages; road destruction, power failures, fallen mobile phone towers cut off much of the affected area from the outside world; millions of people are living on unsheltered areas to avoid potential aftershocks; in the town of Juyuan, south of the epicenter, a school collapsed, trapping 900 kids in the rubble and setting off a frantic search for survivors.

The disaster regions are currently in urgent needs for medicine, tents, quilts, food, water, etc. Chinese Students and Scholars Association-UCI, on behalf of the people suffering from the disaster, call for your kind donation. If you would like to donate with a check, please write your donation check payable to Red Cross Society of China and indicate "Donation: Earthquake in China" on the check.

We will set up a booth on UCI campus to receive your donation:

Location: The Ring Mall, in front of the UCI Bookstore/Starbucks

Time: 8:00am-5:00pm, May 15th (Thurs) and 16th (Fri)



If you are not able to visit the booth, you can send your checks to:

Red Cross Society of China

and please indicate "Attention: Donation for Earthquake in China".

AFTER THE 1st DAY:

Total: $14326.09 and RMB 145.00