We are fortunate that you are in Chengdu, covering the earthquake and are all safe and focused. I've good friends in Chengdu. From your descriptions of the city of Chengdu, the probability is good that they are all safe.

This was sent to me this morning from by friend in Chongqing, a high-school student.

"Maybe you will be surprised I send an email on weekdays. Maybe you have known that there was an immense earthquake in Sichuan. But today I was really scared,you know I have never experienced such a disaster. At about 2:48, I went to school to have a chemistry class. When I got there, sitting on my desk, I found my water bottle was swaying slightly. Then others also felt that, but we did not know why. A few seconds later, my desk, the lights suspended from the ceiling, and the whole building began to sway!

The students who were on the high floor could hardly stand firmly. So we dashed outside, while others went out of the building in order. Till then, I had found that this was a earthquake!

Now we have been in peace. This earthquake happened in the west of Sichuan. But to my surprise, Shanghai, Nanjing, even Beijing was influenced by the earthquake! That means, people live there felt the same as we did!
I feel sorry I can not give you more information. You can see further reports on the website, that will be another big news in China.

What a... dreadful day! But I think myself lucky. Hope you are in good health..."

I think the damage in Chongqing will be considerably less than in Chengdu.

Best wishes and congratulations for your rapid-response reporting!

Sent by Jon D. Moulton | 4:12 PM ET | 05-12-2008

Keep up the passionate reporting. Your eyes are providing the clearest picture
of this event. Thank you!

Dave Shinn

Sent by Dave Shinn | 6:28 PM ET | 05-12-2008

My family is in the process of adopting a three year old boy from Cheng Du. He is living in an orphanage in Cheng Du City. Do you happen to know how the orphanage and the children are in Cheng Du? We would appreciate hearing or seeing anything regarding these children.

Sent by julia schmidt | 7:11 PM ET | 05-12-2008

Thank you for your timely reports from Chengdu and the surrounding region. Many of us here in the US are very concerned about the people who live in China who have been affected by the very large earthquake.

We're also concerned about the pandas in Wolong and Chengdu and would appreciate any information you can report about them.

I have been to China a number of times and taught English in a rural farm village for three weeks last September. Hopefully, the friends I made there are okay.

Take care and stay safe as you go out and about.

Sent by C. Golliher | 8:06 PM ET | 05-12-2008

julia, go here for some information about a Half the Sky orphanage in chengdu:

http://www.halfthesky.org/journal/?p=87

i don't know if this is the same swi from which you are adopting, but this organization might be able to get you some information.

very best of luck.

ralph

Sent by ralph | 8:50 PM ET | 05-12-2008

I am a Chinese in the U. S. and I am from Chengdu. I appreciate your program and this blog a lot. I blog regularly on the Chinese Internet, and I have written a brief introduction of your Chengdu programs and this blog on my blog.

Thanks and keep up the good work.

Sent by Jidian | 10:32 PM ET | 05-12-2008

Thank you all for this reporting. Keep it up, and be safe.

Sent by JT | 12:49 AM ET | 05-13-2008

Thanks the ATC crew reporting from Chengdu. You all stay safe. Ms. Block's Monday report was very good.

But I am wondering why Ms. Block referred the angry parents waiting for info of their missing loved ones at the collapsed school as "an angry mob". You might want to consider the Chinese people's culture, especially for the non-Christian ones. In most Asian cultures, photographing the deads or the victims while the families are mourning is a no-no. In this case, the anxious parents' angry are understandable so I don't believe it justified to simply call the parents as a "mob".

Please show some respects and some sensitivity to the loss of lives and the families. I know it's OK in the U.S. to take pictures of people who passed away but not in other cultures, like Chinese.

Sent by GEN. Flicker | 12:50 AM ET | 05-13-2008

Thank you, Melissa, Robert and Andrea for covering this breaking news for us from Chengdu! I listen to your ALl things considered almost every day. Wish you enjoy your time in China!

Sent by Victor | 2:40 AM ET | 05-13-2008

My daughter and her fiance are in Chengdu. We have been able to talk by cell phone. She described her feelings as "terrified" and "running for our lives." There is rubble scattered round and people are occupying every blade of grass and greenery because buildings are too dangerous to enter now. She was able to receive and send text messages very shortly after the quake hit which was a blessing because we could not get through to her by telephone. Describing the people, and herself, as shell-shocked and further overwhelmed by the magnitude of their own fear.

Thank you for NPR's coverage. You provided the proverbial window into this disaster.

Sent by Jamie | 3:50 AM ET | 05-13-2008

My families and I are fine. People are afraid of aftershocks, some of the middle schools and kindergartens are still closed. It has been raining heavily all day. But you can still see cars are parked along side the road with people living in their cars because they are too afraid to return home. Food prices have not risen. And all other essentials are still widely available. The local TV stations are reporting about the earthquake 24/7.
However, it's the biggest earthquake in China since 1976. Many people did not know how to respond to an earthquake. Unfortunately, some even jumped out of tall buildings when the earthquake struck. Rumor has it some even died from fright.
I wonder if this earthquake could have been anticipated. If so, the number of casualties could have been lower.

Sent by Song Qiuying | 1:01 PM ET | 05-13-2008

I totally agree with GEN. Flicker. Please give some considerations in different cultures. Don't get me wrong, I love your reports and admire your professionalism. I'm your big fan. Thank you for all your effort and take care of yourselves, ATC crew!

Sent by Beverly Peng | 1:56 PM ET | 05-13-2008

Melissa, You are doing an excellent job covering a terrible situation. Do you have any first hand contact with the Panda reserve in Wolong? Are the keepers and the Pandas OK? Thanks.

Sent by Jerry Braden | 2:54 PM ET | 05-13-2008

BBC and other news orgs are reporting that the Wolong pandas are safe.

Sent by andy carvin, npr | 3:07 PM ET | 05-13-2008

Just wanted to compliment all of you on your moving coverage of this disaster. I heard Melissa Block's report on the scene at the middle school on All Things Considered yesterday and it really brought the personal nature of the tragedy, multiplied thousands of times over, all home.

Sent by Scott K | 4:31 PM ET | 05-13-2008

Dear NPR,

I caught your report yesterday evening, and in response to queries, heard your fabulous reporters insist that they were fine. And they are, in comparison with so many around them.

However, I was in the Loma Prieta quake in 1989, 5 miles from the epicenter, and anyone who has experienced a quake that collapses buildings has just gone through an extremely harrowing event. Even if you are alive, and getting food and water.

The aftershocks, well there can be hundreds in a day, and they can be quite strong. They will go on for perhaps months. So many times a day the survivors are physically shaken, reminded of their trauma and losses over and over again. Almost everyone there including your fantastic staff, will suffer from PTSD. I was attending community college at the time, and when classes resumed everyone; students, teachers, staff, had the attention span of a gnat. We could NOT concentrate. This continued for about 2 months. Relationships and marriages broke up. Loud noises, rumbles, trucks, trains, any kind of shaking will provoke a startled response.

I know with the huge devastation that is going on, this seems like a small thing, but it's not. It is always under reported, but it is a huge part of what the survivors must deal with, even if they have been 'lucky'. I don't care if you post this comment, I just want NPR to realize that their wonderful staff has just been hugely stressed and to take the appropriate steps.

many thanks for your thoughtful and through reporting.

Sent by Clara Weygandt | 10:08 AM ET | 05-16-2008

Melissa & Bob

Thank you for those stories, I couldn't help crying, human beings can suffer like this, can't imagine people losing their loves in such a tragic way.

Please take care of yourself, love your down to earth style, love your report.

God Bless

Kelly

Sent by Kelly | 11:01 AM ET | 05-16-2008