It was 2:28 p.m. on May 12, 2008, a moment memo-rable for the world. An earthquake measuring 8.0-magnitude hit Wenchuan, Sichuan Province. It was the most powerful earthquake in the country since the founding of New China in 1949. It caused great damage, affected vast areas and incurred the most severe difficulties in rescue efforts. Tens of thousands of people lost their lives and millions lost their families.