Day 7 May 18 2008, Sunday

Death toll: 32,476 Rescue toll: 220,109

Just for today, Taiwan for China

Two days before he becomes Taiwan's president, Ma Ying-jeou ,mans the phone lines in charity telethon
Networks from China and Taiwan held a joint telecast of a charity telethon, organised by Taiwanese media, where several of the biggest names in Taiwan's entertainment industry took to the phone lines, as the calls from the public flooded in with donations. The island's then president-elect Ma Ying-jeou also joined in with his wife. By the end of the night, a grand total of 227 million Taiwan dollars ( US$ 7 million) was raised for the earthquake victims.

China's Environment Minister assures that no radioactive leakage has taken place from Sichuan's 32 radioactive sources. The province is also home to China's nuclear weapons research efforts, including the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics.

Three pandas are said to be missing from the Wolong Panda Reserve, despite earlier reports that all 63 were accounted for.

Three days of mourning will be held all over China and at Chinese diplomatic missions worldwide, starting tomorrow. The Sichuan government announces that it will be giving 5,000 yuan per death to all families.

China Civil Aviation Authority despatches the world's largest helicopter, the MI-26, to help with rescue relief. It can carry 20 tonnes of supplies. The World Food Programme had previously deployed the same type of helicopter to reach those in the Kashmir Valley affected by a previous earthquake in Pakistan in 2005.

A 50-year-old man is pulled out of the rubble alive, after being trapped for more than 140 hours. His condition is stable.

China revises the earthquake from 7.8 to 8.0 on the Richter Scale, after consolidation with international experts.

The China Youth Development Fund has set up a “Hope Primary School” in the earthquake-devastated region. Costing 350,000 yuan ( US$ 50,000) the school will be able to accommodate 600 students in nine classrooms. It has also been constructed to withstand quakes, fire and floods.


VIDEO OF THE DAY

Dedicated to the children affected by this disaster.