Rev. Danny Fisher

As you’ve probably heard by now, a terrible earthquake hit Tibet and Western China today.

Officials say 617 people died and 9,980 were injured when the quake struck Yushu county early on Wednesday.

But 313 people are missing and the death toll is expected to rise.

At Shambhala Sun Space, our friend and editor Rod Meade Sperry adds:

Yushu — population 100,000; many of whom are and have been Tibetan –  is one of the locales most associated with the anti-government protests of March 2008 and was for centuries a hotbed of Buddhist activity. Countless area houses and even schools collapsed in the quakes and aftermath, and flooding is prevalent. Many incoming roadways have been compromised or destroyed, greatly complicating rescue efforts.

[...]

We now have word via a Shambhala sangha member who passes on a message from Shirley Blair, the director of Thrangu Rinpoche’s school for Himalayan children in Kathmandu. Blair’s message contends that Thrangu Rinpoche’s monastery was hit by the quake, resulting in at least 10 deaths. The learning center there has reportedly collapsed, so there may be more casualties. We’ll share details as they become available.

In addition, our friend Maia Duerr at The Jizo Chronicle reports:

This is very sad news, from a press release just sent out by the 2010 Buddhist Women’s Conference Committee. The Tibet Girls School, the recipient of this year’s Women and Engaged Buddhism Award, has been destroyed in the earthquake that struck the Himalayan region of Eastern Tibet earlier today.

For more information, including places to donate money for recovery efforts, I’m pleased to say that two publications I am lucky to work for are the best places to look right now:  elephant journal and Shambhala Sun Space.

I’d also like to join Rod in pointing out that the Tibet Relief Fund has launched an appeal for victims the earthquake. Donations can be made here.