At 14:28 on May 12, 2008, a devastating earthquake hit Wenchuan (31.0 degrees north latitude and 103.4 degrees east longitude) of Sichuan Province.

Measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale, the Wenchuan earthquake is the deadliest tremor in China in decades. It caused great damage to various degrees in seven provinces of Sichuan, Gansu, Shaanxi, Yunnan, Shanxi, Guizhou and Hubei and one municipality of Chongqing. The disaster-hit area covers 100,000 square km. By 12:00 on July 12, it was declared that a total of 69,197 people were killed during the quake, 374,176 wounded, and 18,379 people were still missing. Millions of people became homeless.

 Immediately after the earthquake, President Hu Jintao gave instructions for all-out efforts to rescue the injured. Premier Wen Jiabao rushed to the quake-hit area the same day to direct the rescue and relief work. Rescue workers quickly reached victims of the quake-hit area. As the quake has left a trail of ruptured roads, landslides and broken buildings, motorized troops were sent out right away, and the rescuers marched in double time to the quake-hit area; special troupes were also ordered to parachute into the quake-hit area, although rain and clouds had prevented military helicopters from landing; speed boats carried rescuers to the quake-hit area. More than 100,000 PLA men, armed police, public security workers, fire brigade members as well as tens of thousands of medical workers worked day and night in the quake-hit area. Local people were also organized to participate in the rescue work. They raced against the time to save the people buried under debris. The Chinese people showed unprecedented unity and cohesion in helping their fallen compatriots in different ways. Relief materials were rushed to the quake-hit area, volunteers in their tens of thousands strongly participated in the rescue work, and people from all walks of life donated money and blood for the disaster-stricken area….

Under the staunch leadership of the Chinese Government, the rescue operation and disaster relief for victims in the worst earthquake over decades are of top priority of the nation. The whole country was mobilized to give love and aid to the Wenchuan area. As of July 9,  the government disaster relief fund had reached 56.1 billion yuan (about 8.2 billion U.S. dollars), domestic and foreign donations had reached 56.9 billion yuan (about 8.3 billion U.S. dollars) in cash and goods.

China is not alone. The international community provided generous aid for the earthquake victims, and supported the Chinese Government and the Chinese people in their rescue and operation and disaster relief work. Batches of relief materials and donation flowed into Sichuan. International rescue workers, medical teams and volunteers joined their Chinese counterparts to rescue lives. By May 20, a total of 166 countries and some 30 international organizations expressed sympathy and solicitude for people of the disaster-stricken area, with international aid valued at 2 billion Yuan. The Chinese people will never forget these friends in need.

By running this Photo Exhibition, we wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to South African Government, South African people, and the international community. The photos here primarily record what have happened in the quake-hit Wenchuan area and other parts of China in the first over 10 days.

The devastating earthquake has destroyed the Wenchuan area, but the world has all reasons to see a new Wenchuan area rise from debris in the near future!

We hope the world will remember these days forever.