A massive 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck central China on Monday, killing more than 8,500 people. Last year, OB China responded to an earthquake that struck the Pu'er region of South Western China, seen above.

BEIJING - A massive 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck central China on Monday, killing more than 8,500 people.

State officials report 80 percent of the buildings have collapsed in Beichuan County in Sichuan province. In one region, more than 900 students are trapped under the rubble of their school.

Some officials fear the overall death toll could dramatically increase.

"They are expecting more aftershocks tonight, which is concerning as the buildings that held up during the initial quake may have been weakened, and smaller aftershocks could be more damaging than the initial," said Kara Waddell, general manager for Operation Blessing China.

OBI is mobilizing teams to work with the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation and hold medical clinics as well as provide relief supplies.

Several OB China staff members had already been working around the clock to gain visas into cyclone-damaged Myanmar to help with relief efforts there. However, once news of the earthquake spread, the crew headed back to China.

"It's been a tiring week of working to get donated goods into Myanmar – and now we're responding to an earthquake in our own backyard," Waddell said. "Our staff are putting together a plan for sending in a medical team of doctors to help start treating the estimated 10,000 injured."

HOW YOU CAN HELP
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