"Over 9,000 people died, and in one county alone 5,000 died," the distraught Li, 45, said yesterday in an interview from his real-estate office. "This is the biggest earthquake in the last 40 years."

Li, who runs Liberty Real Estate Associates, on Arch Street, has 14 relatives who live in his native Sichuan province, where yesterday's massive 7.9-magnitude quake did its most deadly damage.

Li had been on the brink of despair, as communication with his grandparents, nieces, nephews and cousins was suspended when the country's cell-phone system apparently failed.

But he was relieved when a call finally came informing him that none of his relatives was hurt.

"I received hundreds of calls, but then the cell towers were cut off, and access to the local Internet was down," Li recalled. "Family members in other provinces had to call me."

To help his native country, Li said, he is establishing a relief fund at the Conestoga Bank branch at 1032 Arch St. He said donations would go "directly to the relief effort."

Those wishing to contribute may send donations to: Sichuan Earthquake Relief Fund, c/o Liberty Real Estate, 924 Arch St., Philadelphia 19107. Or call Li's office at 215-625-4725.

"We will make sure that money goes to the schools and the hospitals," Li said. "Members of my church [Trinity Christian Church of Greater Philadelphia] are offering prayer services as well."

Li is an unfortunate expert on earthquakes. He survived a devastating quake in China in 1976, leaving him homeless for weeks.

Mandy Hu, who works for Asia Travel on Cherry Street, also was fearful for her family once she heard about yesterday's earthquake.

"I still have family in China, and after I saw the news, I immediately started calling people," Hu said. "I also have a family member in Shanghai who said he still feels the aftershocks, but only for a few seconds, and that otherwise it's pretty normal there.

"And Beijing and Shanghai are pretty far away from Sichuan."

Hu predicted that the earthquake would affect her business.

"Everybody who books right now is thinking twice and postponing their travels," Hu said, noting that 90 percent of her business comes from either Chinese people flying back home or from Americans who want to visit China.