2008 Sichuan earthquake , magnitude 8 . Mw , occurred at 14:28:01.42 CST ( 06:28:01.42 UTC ) on 12 May 2008 , with its epicenter in Wenchuan County , Sichuan province of the People 's Republic of China . The disaster galvanized the CANGOs into soliciting numerous monetary donations and other forms of aid from across the globe , which has exceeded a collective total of $ 456.9 million USD in cash contributions from sources outside the country . Inside mainland China , by May 14 , the Ministry of Civil Affairs stated that 10.7 billion yuan ( approximately US$ 1.5 billion ) had been donated by the Chinese public alone , including 4.185 billion yuan in the first week
2008 Sichuan earthquake
2008 Sichuan earthquake
Reactions to the 2008 Sichuan earthquake