Robina feels earthquake in Beijing
Posted by otterman on 12 May 2008
Alvin must not have access to a computer, SMSed to ask for earthquake data. Said “Robina freak out.”
I checked and SMS-ed over confirmation - USGS reports 7.5 scale earthquake with an epicentre in Eastern Sichuan, China (31.084°N, 103.267°E) at 2.28pm local time (UTC 6.28pm). Reuters reports office buildings sway in Beijing and Shanghai. Also felt in Bangkok and Hanoi.
Updates
- 3.08pm: Robina felt giddy in their high-rise so Alvin’s brought them (and Sally the dog) over to the embassy which is a low rise building. People on the streets.
- Channel News Asia reports the story here.
- 3.12pm - Alvin posts.
- Thousands dead, counts will rise unfortunately - reports at CNN - BBC
13 May 2008 at 3:55 am
Ah, what I feared had happened when I saw your post late afternoon. If it could sway buildings as far away as Taipei, then those around the epicentre were in serious trouble.
No early reports at that time abt the situation in Sichuan, but the news has come in steadily since. So 2 major disasters in east/south Asia within a week of each other ..
I somehow just keep thinking abt the old women survivors of the Long March who were interviwed in Feet Unbound, those that went back to the province - I wonder how they are after this ….