One year ago today at 2:35 in the afternoon, people in high buildings in Kunming couldn't help but notice that something wasn't right – the world had suddenly gone wobbly.

As with any noticeable tremor, the first thoughts of many turned to the epicenter – where in Yunnan was it? One year earlier the town of Pu'er had been hit hard by a 6.4 magnitude quake that killed several, injured hundreds and left thousands homeless.

Once the word began to spread that the epicenter was in Wenchuan, 90 kilometers (55 miles) west-northwest of Chengdu – one province away in Sichuan – the substantial magnitude of the quake started to become clear. The fact that the quake was centered in the heart of a province of 100 million people suggested a potentially massive death toll, which is exactly what happened.

A collective sigh of relief was breathed as it became clear that Chengdu and its 12 million inhabitants had for the most part dodged a bullet. But when government officials announced that the magnitude was 7.8 – a number which would later be revised to 8.0 – all thoughts turned to the certain devastation in the countryside.

The images and accounts of the aftermath of the Wenchuan quake are etched in millions of minds. The rush to save those still trapped beneath the rubble gave way to resignation and the stench of death. Small cities became ghost towns. Quake lakes remained as somber monuments to nature's destructive whims.

A three-day national mourning period was declared. Individuals, companies and corporations chipped in what they could for the relief effort. China rallied around its cousins in the southwest in a show of unity that hadn't been seen since the Yangtze floods of 1998.

In the end, nothing could change the hard facts. Nearly 90,000 people were dead or missing. Almost 400,000 had suffered injuries. Several million were homeless. Basic infrastructure was in shambles.

Now, one year on, it is a time for remembrance - and questions: How can the millions still living in temporary housing move on to a semblance of what they had before the quake? How can schoolchildren, who suffered disproportionately from the quake, be better protected should a quake hit the area again? What role, if any, did extensive damming in the region play? What can China and the rest of the world learn from a tragedy of this magnitude?

Editor's note: GoKunming's sister site in Chengdu, GoChengdoo has more details about news and events related to the still-ongoing quake recovery plus commemoration of the tragic events of one year ago.

Image: Julien Rideller, via GoChengdoo

An earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter
scale shook southwest China this afternoon at 4:30 pm. According to initial reports, the earthquake's epicenter was located 50 kilometers south of Panzhihua (攀枝花), Sichuan province.

As of 6:30 pm Beijing time no reports of damage or injuries have emerged. Panzhihua, a city of slightly more than 1 million, is located near Sichuan's southern border with Yunnan roughly 350 kilometers north of Kunming. The tremor was able to be felt in high buildings throughout Kunming.

Today's earthquake is the second episode of major seismic activity to hit southwest China in the past month - on August 19 and 21, two quakes hit Yunnan's Yingjiang County (盈江县) near the Myanmar border, measuring 5.0 and 5.9 in magnitude, respectively.

The first Yingjiang quake was quickly followed by two aftershocks measuring less than 5.0, while the second quake killed at least three and left 106 injured, 24 of which were considered serious injuries.

Today's quake also hits Sichuan as it was recovering from the devastating earthquake in Wenchuan County on May 12, which killed nearly 70,000 people.

GoKunming will provide more updates as they become available.

UPDATE: At least 22 are confirmed dead - 17 in Sichuan and five in Yunnan - and more than 100 are injured from Saturday's quake, according to Xinhua reports. At least 1,000 homes were destroyed by the tremor.

Related article: Hope during dark times: Witnessing the earthquake's aftermath

In addition to the destruction and tragic loss of life Monday's earthquake caused in Wenchuan and elsewhere in Sichuan, many events in Sichuan and surrounding provinces including Yunnan have been canceled. One such event is the Kunming stop on the Subs' tour of west China.

Local music promoter Xiao Gui, posting on the Rock Yunnan BBS, announced the cancellation of the Subs show in Kunming originally scheduled for next Wednesday:

"Because of the earthquake, the band is unable to make it to Kunming from Gansu, there's no way around it, the performance has to be cancelled. This month has been truly unlucky, but we pray with devotion for the fortune of our compatriots. There will be loads of shows after the Olympics, let's all look forward to after the Olympics…"

Sam Debell of Speakeasy Bar, where the Subs/Noise Addiction show was to take place, confirmed that the show had been cancelled and expressed hope that it would be rescheduled for later this year. Debell said that the band was currently in Sichuan and was in good shape but unable to make it to Kunming.

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Beijing garage rockers Subs to play Kunming

Editor's note: We have received many queries from readers about how they can contribute to the earthquake relief efforts in Wenchuan and elsewhere in Sichuan, here is information on how to help, courtesy of Shanghaiist:

For those who are looking to contribute to current aid efforts underway, you can now donate money to the Red Cross Society of China which has formed a disaster relief working group to be dispatched to the earthquake-stricken Wenchuan County in Sichuan.

They have also published an emergency relief hotline, along with bank account information to receive donations to assist their cause:

Account name: Red Cross Society of China
开户单位：中国红十字会总会

For those who want to donate in RMB: you can send money to the RMB account at the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China branch below:
人民币开户行: 中国工商银行 北京分行东四南支行
人民币账号: 0200001009014413252

For those who want to donate in foreign currency, you can send money to the foreign currency account at the CITIC Bank branch below:
外币开户行：中信银行酒仙桥支行
外币账号: 7112111482600000209

Hotline: (8610) 65139999
Online donations: Red Cross Society of China website: www.redcross.org.cn
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