Massive Earthquake hits China

Written by Darren Hewer

A powerful earthquake hit central China on Monday, killing at least 8,500 and injuring 10,000 others as schools and other buildings collapsed throughout Sichuan province.

Authorities had not yet reached officials in Wenchaun County, where the quake was strongest, and where more than 112,000 people live. Roads were “blanketed with rocks and boulders” [said] Li Chongxi, deputy secretary to the Suchuan Provincial Committee. (Source: Washington Post)

Reading such astounding numbers can, at times, desensitize us to the horrors of such tragedies. It’s hard to even begin to conceive of the deaths of so many people. Even one death of a loved one is enough to cause despondence, and if we were to fully feel the effects of the loss of tragedies such as this earthquake and the recent cyclone in Myanmar, we might be overcome with sadness.

Thankfully, as C. S. Lewis said, “There is no such thing as a sum of suffering, for no one suffers it.”

Still, we shouldn’t let geographic or cultural distance allow us to become desensitized to the plight of our fellow human beings. Please keep those who are suffering in mind and in prayer today, and if you live in a country where a natural disaster has recently occurred or know someone who does, please post your thoughts and prayer requests in our comments, or contact a private online mentor to talk.

(Image courtesy USGS Earthquake Hazards Program)

One Response to “Massive Earthquake hits China”

Loading comments
Deebee says:

May 20, 2008 at 8:38 am

You so right that we do risk becoming desensitized to the plight of our fellow human beings, especially when there are two natural disasters so close together. Rather than deal with it, it seems easier to just change the channel instead of watching the images and deciding what part we can play in meeting the needs of others who have lost everything.