The word is that 12,000 are confirmed dead and thousands more remain missing after a 7.9 magnitude earthquake roiled central China. The death toll could rise as high as 30,000 once all are accounted for.

This is the second massive tragedy in Asia in a little over a week’s time. While there are obvious lessons about on spreading electronics manufacturing around — much like the semiconductor houses do — so as to avoid Mother Nature’s inevitable wrath, or to avoid putting massive dams on top of Asia’s largest fault line, now is not the time to moralize. We hope any affected family members of our readers are safe and well.