We are deeply saddened by the loss of life in the Lushan earthquake, and we offer our condolences to those who have lost loved ones in the disaster.

We also offer grateful thanks to all the rescue workers who have been braving the frequent aftershocks to search for survivors, and we hope those who are still buried in the rubble waiting to be rescued will be quickly found.

The same earthquake fault zone has produced two strong quakes in five years, as the latest quake, which is a preliminary magnitude 7.0, occurred less than a month before the fifth anniversary of the devastating 8.0-magnitude Wenchuan earthquake on May 12.