Red Cross May 2008

Tens of thousands of people have been killed or injured by the devastating earthquake that struck south west China on 12 May. Many more have lost their homes and the death toll continues to rise.

The epicentre of the 7.9 magnitude quake was Wenchuan County in Sichuan Province, with another seven provinces affected. Tremors were felt as far away as the capital Beijing.

A number of heavily populated areas have been badly hit. In the town of Beichuan, 80 per cent of buildings are reported to have collapsed, including several schools, burying children and teachers under piles of rubble. The nearby town of Mianzhu, which has a population of 60,000, was also seriously affected. Roads and communication lines have been severely disrupted, and heavy rains are forecast, which will further complicate rescue efforts.

Soon after the earthquake struck, volunteers from the Red Cross Society of China were on the ground distributing emergency relief to the survivors. But as the situation continues to unfold, more help is urgently needed to prevent further loss of life.

People need food, clean water and shelter to help them survive the immediate aftermath of the quake.

The Red Cross is working around the clock to reach those most in need.

For information of how you can help click here