I have a number of friends and clients in Beijing and Shanghai. Today I heard from a second friend in Beijing on the earthquake. Here is their general email letting everyone know what is going on there. From our long-standing friends at GoodOrient.com:

The earthquake’s aftermath

Greetings, and Blessings, from the Orient staff!

This is just a short email to thank everyone that has wrote in to us and wish us well with regards to the Sichuan Earthquake, which happened on Tuesday.

The 7.9 magnitude tremor, which was focused in China’s Sichuan Province, is estimated to have killed at least 14,800 people and that toll is expected to rise dramatically as rescue teams reach the most affected areas.

During that time, we at Beijing felt a few series of “shakes”, and the first reaction of us here were “low blood sugar level” or “wow I need more sleep”. It didn’t dawn on us that it was an earthquake, until people where out on the streets chatting, and the phonecalls started coming into the district.

The staff and the office at GoodOrient are all okay, but it is tragic that those in Sichuan were not so fortunate…the whole nation and us will continue to pray for the wellbeings of the survivors and the buried that are yet to be found, and the volunteers that are working round the clock finding survivors.

The GoodOrient company, it’s staff, and myself have donated money towards the cause, and our tailors are making blankets and towels, ready to be shipped out tomorrow Friday. We will continue to be donating part of the proceeds from GoodOrient, until the situation is over. The nation has rallied towards this cause, so the rescue effort is positive. We will continue to monitor the situation…

Thank you,

From all members of the GoodOrient Team