Update (9.52am): The extent of casualties and damage caused by yesterday's earthquake started to become apparent last night with reports of 7,651 deaths being reported at around 10pm. As of 7am this morning, that number had climbed to 9,219. Xinhua is also reporting that more that 500,000 buildings collapsed.

For those looking to donate, Shanghaiist have translated this Xinhua report detailing how to give funds to the China Red Cross. Sina have also set up a page devoted to collecting funds for the victims of the earthquake.

Info on how to donate:
Shanghaiist: Red Cross Society of China now calling for donations for Sichuan earthquake
Xinhua: 中国红十字会紧急呼吁为地震灾区民众捐款捐物
Sina: Donation Page

Update (5.37pm): Earlier reports about warnings of a second earthquake from China's Earthquake Administration are now being reported as untrue. Sohu, one of the web portals/news sites that reported the original news (link has since been removed) referred to above, are now quoting an "expert from Beijing's Earthquake Administration" as saying that the reports of the administration releasing a formal announcement to this effect are false.

Update (4.23pm): Chinese media, quoting an announcement from China's Earthquake Administration, are reporting that the city is likely to be hit by another earthquake ranging between 2-6 on the Richter scale. The earthquake is predicted to hit some time between 10pm and midnight tonight. There are also unconfirmed rumors that another one will hit at 5pm. There have also been reports that China's Premier Wen Jiabao will travel to Sichuan to inspect the damage. For the latest from Xinhua, see this report.

Update(3.56pm): Images of buildings being evacuated around the country, including the Jinmao tower in Shanghai and office buildings around Beijing, available here.

Tall builings in Beijing's CBD and other areas were evacuated at a bit after 2.30pm this afternoon after being rocked to and fro by an earthquake. News reports suggested that the tremors were caused by a huge earthquake in Sichuan province in Southwest China. The earthquake, which according to the Earthquake Hazards Program (a US site) took place at 2.28pm Beijing time, measured somewhere between 7.5 and 7.8 on the Richter scale and was felt around the country with Xinhua reporters in Zhengzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing also reporting major tremors at around 2pm. However, Xinhua has since reported that a small quake measuring 3.9 on the Richter scale in Beijing's Tongzhou District was the source of the tremors. (Update: This report of an earthquake in Tongzhou has since been labeled a "false report".

The movement caused in our Wanda Plaza offices were larger (and more frightening) than the tremors felt when an Earthquake in Hebei rocked the CBD back in 2006. The earth beneath our feet is feeling particularly unstable give the fact that this earthquake follows a 2.4 quake that hit Beijing's Haidian District in late April. Given that the horrendous earthquake that flattened Tangshan back in 1976 also measured 7.8 on the Richter scale, we hope that the epicenter of the huge earthquake in Sichuan was not too close to any major cities in the densely populated province.

Links and Sources
Xinhua: Minor quake jolts eastern Beijing
Reuters: Strong earthquake hits southwest China
Xinhua: Earthquake measuring 7.6 Richter scale hits SW China
Earthquake Hazards Program: Magnitude 7.5 - EASTERN SICHUAN, CHINA
Wikipedia: 1976 Tangshan earthquake
Danwei: Earthquake gives Beijing a wobbly
: All Shook Up: Earthquake in Haidian last night
The Beijinger Forum: Earthquake
Sina: 四川汶川地震已造成9219人死亡
Xinhua:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/12/content_8154890.htm