Hundreds Killed, Thousands Injured in Western China Quake

At the end of today's general audience in St. Peter's Square, the Pope referred to the earthquake. 'I am praying for the victims and am spiritually near all those affected by this very serious tragedy. I implore God that they may find relief from their suffering and courage in this time of adversity. I hope that there will be no lack of solidarity shown.'

WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - A serious of earthquakes shook Western China beginning around 8am local time on Wednesday, killing at least 400 people and injuring more than 10,000. The area is inhabitted primarily by herders and farmers who live in homes made of mud and wood which collapsed quickly. The death toll is expected to rise as many more were trapped in their homes and have yet to be rescued. The USGA stated that five of the six tremors exceeded 5.0 magnitude with the stronged measuring 7.1. The center of the quakes was located  Yushu county, in the southern part of Qinghai, near Tibet. Reuters News indicates that troops have now been been mobilized and aid shipments from private organizations have set off from the provincial capital, Xining. "I see injured people everywhere. The biggest problem now is that we lack tents, we lack medical equipment, medicine and medical workers," Zhuohuaxia, a local spokesman, told the Xinhua news agency. According to MSNBC, Karsum Nyima, the Yushu county television station's deputy head of news, while speaking by phone with broadcaster CCTV. stated that the main quake sent residents running for their lives as their fragile houses began to collapse.  At the end of today's general audience in St. Peter's Square, the Pope referred to the earthquake. "I am praying for the victims and am spiritually near all those affected by this very serious tragedy. I implore God that they may find relief from their suffering and courage in this time of adversity. I hope that there will be no lack of solidarity shown." ----- Randy Sly is the Associate Editor of Catholic Online. He is a former Archbishop of the Charismatic Episcopal Church who laid aside that ministry to enter into the full communion of the Catholic Church.

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