There was an earthquake that happened here during my stay here in China. I didn't feel it, but in Sichuan province where the epicenter was located, it measured 7.9 on the Richter scale. It was a huge tragic disaster for the Chinese. Some estimates were as high as 50,000 people dead or missing. The news footage showed entire towns leveled. To make matters worse, the roads were blocked by landslides. Huge boulders came down and crushed tractor trailers like tin cans. It was inspiring to see the people and the government spring into action. Prime Minsister Wen Jia Bao was at the scene, in the rain, within 4 hours. He went from village to village for a week straight trying to reassure survivors, injured, and rescuers alike. Time after time, he would personally comfort victims. This is an amazingly stressful situation for the 56 year old leader. You could feel the compassion in his voice. President Hu Jin Tao also is doing the same. Literally, he is sitting in the dirt on a piece of cardboard, holding victims hands and comforting them. The rest of China cued up in lines around the block to donate money for those in need. The whole country rallied to do anything they could to abate the disaster. One particularly tragic site was a large school that collapsed with all the students inside. Hundreds of children died and there were sad reminders in the shoes and book bags mixed in with the debris. Just to put the immense nature of this earthquake would be like relocating the entire state of Wisconsin; providing food shelter and sanitation; and returning them to productive lives.
