Hear Us Experience the Earthquake
You can hear Melissa's interview interrupted as the building started shaking and we realized it was an earthquake. For the full story go here.
12:39 PM ET | 05-12-2008 | permalink
Please tell us about the conditions in Chengdu. Are businesses open? Will the children be back in school tomorrow? Did any buildings collapse? We are supposed to travel there on the 21st for business. I'm wondering if conditions will permit. Is the airport open?
It's surreal to hear the earthquake during your interview. I am always an All Things Considered fan and Ms. Block was very calm and this live recording of the quake and the chaos was really good and timely reporting. Thanks so much, NPR.
I live in Las Vegas, Nevada. My daughter works in Macau, but went on a sightseeing tour to Chengdu. I can't reach her. I am so worried for her safety.
I have been extremely impressed by Melissa Block's reporting during and after the earthquake. It is remarkable that she was able to maintain her composure and professionalism during the event itself. Thank you for making this riveting reporting available to us.
Glad to hear that Andrea and Melissa were unhurt. It was obvious for all Californians that it was Melissa's first earthquake. I don't envy what she's going through now, because it has to be far far different from what happens in a quake for anywhere in California. We're so prepared, and the building codes are so effective here that damage from earthquakes is limited to older buildings, all of which are unreinforced masonry.
Melissa has experienced a bigger earthquake than I've ever been in. I can distinctly remember where I was for all 4 major earthquakes I've been in, and there were several smaller ones that you forget about as no big deal. My biggest was in October 1999 in Southern California, the USGS reported it as a 7.1. I know that a 7.9 is significantly worse, but far worse than the actual shaking is the destruction, and then even worse than that is the loss of life. I can't imagine what the NPR team is going through seeing this.
This is not intended to be posted, but I just felt compelled to tell you how much I have appreciated your coverage of the earthquake this week. I've enjoyed Melissa Block's work for years, but she has outdone herself this week, beginning with the extraordinary composure she displayed during the interview when the earthquake hit. Well done to your entire team!
Wow, Melissa Block is my new hero.
About 'Chengdu Diary'
We first launched this blog in the spring of 2008, when a team from NPR's All Things Considered headed to Chengdu, China, the capital of Sichuan Province, to prepare for a week of special programming on China. On May 12, 2008, the staff found themselves in the middle of an unexpected story when a massive earthquake struck southwestern China.
The 2008 entries on this blog offer a day-by-day chronicle of the team's experiences before and after the quake. The 2009 entries document a return visit to Chengdu and to the parts of Sichuan Province most affected by the disaster.
For more about the project, please be sure to read our Frequently Asked Questions guide and our discussion rules.
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