Major 7.8 earthquake in China

**Darlene** · 05-12-2008, 07:30 AM

and my MIL & FIL are there on vacation. They should be ok, at least I am hoping so. They left Chongquing 3 days ago where much of the damage is, news is slow to come in... After Chongquing they went on a Yangtze River cruise to the Three Gorges dam site. When the quake hit they should have been on a bus leaving the damn area (Yichang), heading to Wuhan.
I'm sorry for the losses to life there & hope the aftershocks don't cause further loss.
Feel so helpless having them so far away, but I'm not going to freak out. Chances are they are fine.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...56E&refer=home

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/as...f=mpstoryemail

**SewCrafty** · 05-12-2008, 07:46 AM

Oh Darlene, I hope they are alright too.

Hopefully you will hear from them soon.

I saw it on the Weather Channel and it looks bad. But I think only because thier homes are not as well constructed as ours are.

Let us know when you hear anything.

**PrairieRose** · 05-12-2008, 08:06 AM

Darlene, I hope you hear from them very soon. Please keep us posted.

**Darlene** · 05-12-2008, 09:12 AM

I called the Elderhostel and they were so nice there. I can't believe I was the first one to call and while I was online someone else called. I gave them my phone # and they said they would get back to me asap. They think their coordinator there will be checking in soon.
The woman I spoke to said she's worked there for 10 years and they only had one other disaster that they had to deal with. She was so sweet trying to put me at ease, I couldn't remember my inlaws phone # or my own for a few seconds, lol.
I'll keep you posted.

Just saw another report on tv, the death toll is rising.

**Darlene** · 05-12-2008, 09:40 AM

They (Susan from Elderhostel) just called back and said everyone they have there in their programs is fine. Whew. Good news for us but not so for so many.

**annymoll** · 05-12-2008, 09:47 AM

I am so thankful your family was not harmed and will be thinking of the families that suffered losses.

**Dixie** · 05-12-2008, 10:52 AM

I'm glad your in laws are ok.
What a horrible tragedy.

**C@rol** · 05-12-2008, 10:55 AM

I hope your inlaws are okay.

**Darlene** · 05-12-2008, 11:00 AM

Death toll there is now above 7000.

**IntlMom** · 05-12-2008, 11:06 AM

I have my eyes glued to the news......having been there first hand and seen how the buildings are built, well, let's just say not up to code. Since that is near where my daughter was born, I am just heartsick......there was a family in a group that got their daughter from Chengdu, the capital of the Chongquing province where it was located.....anyway, that part of the world will forever be near and dear to my heart because of my daughter.
I'm attaching a picture that I have of the homes in the area......I am sure that the death will rise dramatically!

**PrairieRose** · 05-12-2008, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by Darlene

I called the Elderhostel and they were so nice there. I can't believe I was the first one to call and while I was online someone else called. I gave them my phone # and they said they would get back to me asap. They think their coordinator there will be checking in soon.
The woman I spoke to said she's worked there for 10 years and they only had one other disaster that they had to deal with. She was so sweet trying to put me at ease, I couldn't remember my inlaws phone # or my own for a few seconds, lol.
I'll keep you posted.

Just saw another report on tv, the death toll is rising.

Well thank goodness that you've at least heard something positive.

**Palooka** · 05-13-2008, 10:53 PM

I keep watching the news about it. The stories and pictures are so heartbreaking.

**Darlene** · 05-14-2008, 06:58 AM

Originally Posted by Palooka

I keep watching the news about it. The stories and pictures are so heartbreaking.

They are.

Dad called this morning and talked to Jack. They only talked a few moments and Jack wasn't able to ask much(Dad isn't a phone guy to begin with) but in the retelling to me it seems as though the news in China isn't getting out there like it does here. China being what it is I'm sure they control just what they want their people to know or not know. Dad did say that they were indeed on a bus when the quake hit and didn't feel a thing.