On Monday, May 12, at 2.28 p.m. Beijing time (6:28 GMT), a major earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale jolted southwestern China’s Sichuan Province. It shook the skyscrapers in downtown Shanghai, hundreds of miles away; the shocks were felt as far away as Thailand and Vietnam.

The earthquake has rendered over 5 million homeless and a confirmed death toll of over 40,000, a number that is expected to rise dramatically as rescue teams continue to reach the most affected areas (Source: Associated Press). In cities near the earthquake’s epicenter, thousands are buried under the rubble of collapsed buildings. We encourage you to support emergency relief efforts by
donating to either of these organizations.