On Monday this week, China was taken aback when an earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale devastated the province of Szechwan (Sichuan). Reports streaming in tell of collapsed bridges, blocked roads, and some 12,400 people killed after the incident.

The epicenter of the quake was identified to be at Wenchuan county, some 90 km northwest of the provincial capital of Chengdu - the same place where a combined and rushed rescue force of 300 soldiers and disaster workers are currently operating in.

We've heard that they aren't even equipped for the mission, but they've managed with their bare hands somehow. Led by commander Xia Guofu of the military unit stationed there, they've been able to move rubble and reach (as of the report) 1,000 victims buried under the rubble.

More rescuers and military personnel are speculated to join in the effort, but some have reported that boulders and rocks have been blocking many of the main veins to the heart of Wenchuan, and thus supplies and additional manpower coming in have been miniscule at best. Some 70% of the roads in the province were claimed as damaged, and almost all the bridges are gone.

Official word from the vice governor of Szechwan, Li Chengyun, places the current publicized count as "incomplete."

The provincial government said that the death toll was still rising, and the 30 or so seismic aftershocks weren't helping the situation along either. And none of those aftershocks were rated lower than 4.0 on the Richter scale.

Chengyun claimed that some 26,206 people were found injured, and at least 3.5 million homes were destroyed. In addition, reports have come in that 18,645 people are thought to be buried in the ruins that is Mianyang City, some 30 miles north to northeast of the earthquake's epicenter.

'Tis a sad day, indeed. We'll keep monitoring for more updates, but we place our prayers and high hopes to the victims of this tragedy.

Images courtesy of KBK and the Associated Press.