|PIC1|Christians were among the first to respond to the 7.9-magnitude earthquake that brought terrible devastation and huge loss of life to China's southwestern Sichuan province on Monday.

The earthquake, the worst natural disaster to strike the Middle Kingdom in over three decades, has left an estimated 13,000 dead, although the death toll is expected to rise. Thousands more are missing beneath the debris of fallen buildings. Xinhua News Agency reported that 18,645 people were still buried in and around Mianyang, a city about 60 miles east of the epicentre.

World Vision, which has a community development centre just 200 kilometres from the earthquake's epicentre, was just one of the many Christian organisations that said that it had relief and aid workers ready to deploy at any notice.

The Amity Foundation, the only member of Action by Churches Together International, working extensively in China, sent staff to the affected areas to assess the situation and plan a response. It reports that access to the quake hit areas has been made very difficult by the destruction of communications and transport links.

Franklin Graham, who is currently travelling through China on a goodwill tour in support of the country's rapidly growing Christian community, indicated that his relief organisation, Samaritan's Purse, would be ready to send aid immediately during a meeting with Chinese officials.

Graham, whose mother was born in China, has often spoken openly of his love for the nation and its readiness to receive the Gospel. On Sunday, Graham described the country as a "great hope" after preaching powerfully of Jesus Christ to over 12,000 people at Hangzhou Chong-Yi Christian Church, the nation's largest megachurch. Over 1,000 people in attendance responded immediately to Graham's invitation to become followers of Jesus Christ.

Monday's earthquake so soon after the cyclone disaster in Burma has brought to attention the readiness and dedication of Christian relief organisations.

The Chinese Government, in response, has said that it would welcome all international aid and relief.

The earthquake is said to be China's worst since 1976, when over 200,000 people perished in the city of Tangshan after it was hit by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake.