Tibetan monk the Ven Lhagon Tulku, a spiritual director of Dunedin's Dhargyey Buddhist Centre, said he managed yesterday to talk by cellphone to his nephew in Jyekundo, a city the size of Dunedin, which was worst hit in the 6.9-magnitude quake.
The major Tibetan city is in the southern part of the Qinghai Province, near the border of the Tibet Autonomous Region.
It was 10am in China when they spoke. The lama's nephew, a businessman, was able to tell him he, his wife and their child were unharmed in the quake, but their city was almost "flattened", their home too unstable to return to.
They had felt at least five aftershocks during the night.
"People have lost everything," Lama Tulku said through a translator.
Survivors who had not escaped to the mountains had constructed makeshift tents, and were sheltering in them among the rubble until help arrived.
"There is no help at all yet from any quarter because the infrastructure into the area has also been damaged," the lama said.
It was impossible for his nephew to tell how many people were dead or injured, he said.
China television reported the death toll had risen to 617 by late yesterday, with more than 9000 injured, including 970 seriously; and about 300 still missing.
The lama expected the eventual death toll to be more than 1000.
He was aware about 600 monks from nearby Sershul were heading towards the area to assist.
The Chinese Government said 5000 troops had been dispatched to the area.
How that Government responded would reflect what it thought of the Tibetan people, the lama said.
He hoped Tibetans overseas would raise money and send resources, including medical assistance.
• The New Zealand Government has offered China its sympathy after the devastating quake and offered help.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully said New Zealand was ready to support the humanitarian response of China.
"I have written personally to senior leaders in China offering the sincere sympathy and condolences of the people of New Zealand to those affected by the earthquake," Mr McCully said.
