A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck Southwest China on Sunday August 3, 2014. The death toll jumped to at least 615 as bodies have been found in debris in remote communities in the mountainous area. More than 2,400 people have been injured as 12,000 homes were destroyed and 30,000 damaged. Tens of thousands of people have been relocated to safer buildings.
The shallowness of the earthquake, coupled with poor housing construction and a higher than average population density, contributed to the death toll.
“There are a lot of people that we may never be able to dig out,” said Senior Col. Feng, a military rescue worker. Landslides and bouts of heavy rain have hampered the approximately 10,000 troops and hundreds of volunteers working in Ludian. Transportation is extremely difficult because of landslides and poor weather.
This is not the first or worst deadly earthquake in the quake-prone region. In 1970, a large earthquake of magnitude 7.7 killed at least 15,000 while in May of 2008 another powerful earthquake killed 87,000 people.
“And there shall be… earthquakes in diverse places.” Matthew 24:7
“The time is at hand when there will be sorrow in the world that no human balm can heal. The Spirit of God is being withdrawn. Disasters by sea and by land follow one another in quick succession. How frequently we hear of earthquakes and tornadoes, of destruction by fire and flood, with great loss of life and property! Apparently these calamities are capricious outbreaks of disorganized, unregulated forces of nature, wholly beyond the control of man; but in them all, God’s purpose may be read. They are among the agencies by which He seeks to arouse men and women to a sense of their danger.” Prophets and Kings, page 277
Comments
W. Sanford
Friday August 22nd, 2014 at 03:45 AMWith so much suffering in the world caused by
Demonic spirits, we cry out with the ancient
Prophets: “how long, O Lord, how long?!”
We must be sobered by the thought that our
Laodicean condition has much to do with the
delay of our Savior’s return to bring an end to sin and suffering. While we dally, Jesus weeps.
Lord, help us to awaken out of sleep, repent and accept the power to overcome sin now. Holy
Spirit, purge our souls of worldliness, fill us with your Presence, and empower us with true revival, reformation, and Christlike love. Help your people to be the salt and light the world needs just now. Amen.