Living in Guangzhou and a British Citizen I would like to say how impressed I am with the manner which the Government has responded to this disaster. The uniformed men and women are marvelleous and a credit to China. The pictures are so moving and I do pray that more survivors will be found alive.

Derek Beardsall, Guangzhou, China

I'm a high school student from China. The quake did bring great sorrow to all the Chinese. But people from all over the country are trying to help.I believe we'd go through it like the way we got through your misunderstanding, the silly boycott of the Games and the Tibet events.Good luck,China!

Cynthia, Xiamen, China

thank for all the people who help Chinese people in these earthquake,pray for all the trapped people.

LIYE, beijing, China

In this world we have all kinds of people. Some who talk before thinking or are too blunt. Mr. Boris, China heard you and would be investigating the causes. I hope it would continue the good rescue work first and help rebuild the region with better facilities. China needs to move on and rise up.

Lim, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

As a Chinese, I thank you all for your support, understanding as well as some concern. People are united fighting against the disaster, never give up; what we concentrae on is to do the best to save more lives.

Someone raised the issue of building quality, yes, quality of some of the houses and buildings is not good enough, we can do better in the future; however, it is also the fact that not many buildings in the world are able to survive earthquake that strong with scale of 7.8

Frances , Brisbane, Australia

To those who have never been to China and want to accuse the Chinese government and people of not doing enough to help, all I can say for you is, I can tell you've never been to China, for there is not a better group of humans on the planet. They make our culture look like sick, heartless wretches.

Krista, Austin, USA

Amy from Northampton, the 5.2 quake in South Yorkshire earlier this year which caused at least one injury, I believe, also didn't get any warning.

Boris (hoping not Johnson), there is no point to scapegoating in terrible situations like this. If you can't offer help, at least offer some sympathy.

Angel, London,

to Jinyu Ni, Sydney, Australia
As far as I know,the Chinese Army and the rescuers have saved many lives.Most of them got the epicenter on foot,without considering the heavy rain.In wenchuan country,the rescuers have saved 300 lives.Pay great attribute to our Chinese.

Jed, hubei, China

To Amy, Northamptonshire, "Why was an earthquake of this magnitude not predicted or the people not warned?" Please do your homework before open your mouth! The fact is, earthquake is very difficult to predict! None of the big quakes was ever predicted! Welcome to try if you think you can do better!

Lisa, London, UK

@ Samantha, that's not true!

In Australia it was reported on the news that the first International relief came today from Russia. There were 24 tons of medical supplies, tents and blankets.

Condolences and RIP

kitkatz23, Melbourne , Australia

to samantha , Monterey Park, USA
I can tell you,our prime minister reached the earthquake-stricken area as early as the first time ,we are united to help the people in the disaster areas.
I was an ordinary student, but I know what is love .Our donors is spontaneous.

tang huayin, hubei, China

It is not a fund issue or tech or know how issue for the troops, fire fighters in China to rescue those buried. The epicenter is inside the Alps like mountains with narrow roads, it will take days to clear the blockage caused by landslide. It is just not possible to rescue everyone within 3 days.

Jinyu Ni, Sydney, Australia

Chinese government and Chinese people are trying their best to rescue people trapped in the earthquake.We should do something to help them.

jo, Jiangsu, China

i heard that the chinese government didnt take some of the aid offered. is that true?

samantha , Monterey Park, USA

China and the people of China are in our thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely
friends of china

Angela and Ian , London ,

This is a terrible tragedy but at least the Chinese authorities reacted immediately and did their very best, unlike these stupid generals in Burma, who are more concerned with their personal image than human life.

Ken, Orpington, Kent, U.K.

Boris, Belgravia, How many buildings in Lodon can survive 7.9 magnitude tremor ?

Cheng, Beijing,

The earthquake on Monday was the worst ever striken China, you should know this. I DO NOT believe that in Japan all major building are quake proof.

China is much larger than Japan, so is the population. If our government only need to manage a place as small as Japan, they can do much better.

G, Guangzhou, China

Correct, it is just like when flood happened here in England last year. It wasn't the flood, it was the house building without proper thinking & planning? What a wonderful insight from Boris of Belgravia! Ppl dying & suffering and we have someone enlighten us with the cause of the suffering?

Lee, London, UK

Why was an earthquake of this magnitude not predicted or the people not warned?

Amy, Northamptonshire, UK

most of buildings were constructed to take scale of 3-5 earthquakes for short period of time. the one happened in sichuan was 7.9 & last about 2mins. there might be problem of inadequate construction practice, but this wasn’t the root causes of buildings collapse. bless the victims...

xl, chongqing, china

It has been a fact that many places who suferred from eqrthquake have the most damage on schools, due to the weakness and simple construction. Even in Japan, a shallow earthquake will cause the same.

Ariel, CA, US

we are proud of our gov . we love our motherland .
best wish to these victims.pay great attribute to our Chinese arm.

owen, beijing, China

This heart rendering catastrophe has been a great shock to us all, because we have experienced it a few years ago and clearly know how terrible it is to lose your dearest ones, your house, your closest friends -- in short, your everything... I pay my heartiest condolences to the bereaved families..

ebrahim khodadoost, ardebil, iran

It is obvious that someone does not know anything and gives stupid comments. In 1995 in Kobe in Japan happened earthquake that had 200 million loss. The quake caused the death of 5348 people, injured 33 222, and ruined 109 464 houses. In Japan all major building are quake proof ? Really ?

po, birmingham,

"The mountains moved on either side of the valley sending millions of tonnes of rock and earth crashing down to bury the crumpled houses and blocking the river. " And that was after the 7.9 Richter Scale earthquake occurred-so I'm not sure it's fair to blame rapid economic progress for this.

Peter Diaby, Basingstoke, UK

Boris, I think you are being a tad ignorant in thinking that in Japan 'all major building are quake proof'. Yes, they can be built to withstand quakes, but the Titanic was built to be 'unsinkable'. Why is someone always to blame?If you look earthquake up, I'm sure you'll find its a natural disaster.

Kayleigh, Las Palmas, Gran Canaria

'It's the engineering construction of the buildings that has caused all this'.

The rush to find blame is peurile. I'd be interested to see what happened if a 7.9 quake hit Belgravia. The fact is Boris...you just don't know.

Andrew Metcalfe, New York, United States

Boris, Belgravia, London

You simply don't know enough about the situation to comment. Many of the buildings are simple dwellings belonging to desperately poor people, many are very very old, not 'major buildings'

Huge bolders and land slides crashing down ARE caused by earthquakes and do kill

Richard, Maanchester,

Boris, Belgravia, London,
Not all buildings are built to withstand 7.9 Earthquakes. Especially with so many high rise buildings. It is shameful of you blaming the buildings that caused it. Instead of hoping for miracles you are blaming them instead. Have some sympathy.
Hope those affected are ok.

J , Sydney, Australia

It's a pity it takes an earthquke for the Western press to show some common humanity in their dealings with China.
My heart goes out to all the victims and their families and indeed to the whole community of China.

Brian Grainger, seillans, france

I am from Sichuan where is very mountainous and it is May, the season that rain will never stop. My aunt is stil missing from a holiday resort near the epicentre, The whole family is anxiously waiting for news. We can only hope for the best.

ZHAO, London

ZHAO, London, UK

Im doing civil engineering in Bristol university. In a professional point of view, there is no such building or any standing structures on this planet can resist an earthquake of this manitude.

Albert, Bristol,

So ridiculous! In 1995, Kobe was striken by 7.3 quake, over six thousands people died or hurt. If not discrimniation, then must be ignorant of earthquake and geography. We Chinese are unifying to overcome any difficulties and really appreciate all kind concerns from world, but not sarcastic remarks.

Kinda, Shanghai, China

so many people are suffering from the earthquake in Sichuan, China. We feel sorry for the victims From the TV ,we see many high buildings of six -ten stories are collapsed, while many new buildings of two stories of cement are standing firmly there. low buildings are good i think.

wang hong, Changsha, China

The Chinese reaction to this disaster has been a textbook response to an earthquake of this magnitude.

Sam Crispin, Shanghai, China

There are lots of factors resulting to this disastrous situation, you can definitely not only blame for the constructions, it is a reason that can not be ignored, but i can say very few buildings can survive under the earthquake under the strength of 7.9.

Hengzhe Jiang, Sheffield,

It's the engineering construction of the buildings that has caused all this. Rushing ahead economically without clear thinking exposes you to disaster. It is not the earthquake that kills you it's the building that falls on top of you. I believe that in Japan all major building are quake proof

Boris, Belgravia, London