What a disaster !

Click here for a cool puzzle.

Sonia's story

Hi, I'm Sonia and I'm 12. I live with my grandparents, my four sisters and my brother in a village called El Chaperno in El Salvador, Central America.

We used to live in a house but now we're living in a shelter that we've made. Our house was destroyed in a huge earthquake that hit El Salvador. I was inside when it happened and the house started moving from side to side. I ran outside, but I fell over because the earth was trembling so much and I couldn't keep steady. I hurt my right arm and I fell into a barbed-wire fence. My legs were covered in cuts and grazes.

Our house was made of clay bricks. During the earthquake it collapsed completely and everything inside was destroyed. All the beds broke, although we managed to save our mattresses so we can still sleep on them. It's terrible. We can't afford to buy new things.

The earthquake also destroyed the water system so we had to collect water from the river in jugs, but that was difficult because many of our water jugs had been broken.

The earthquake was really scary and I found it difficult to sleep for a while. Our school was destroyed too, but hopefully they will put up some tents for us to have lessons while they rebuild it. People in the town have got together to help each other rebuild their houses, but it will be ages until things are back to normal.

Christian Aid/Judith Escribano

Sonia outside the shelter she is living in now

Christian Aid/Judith Escribano

Sonia and her friend Ludwin standing on a home that was destroyed by the earthquake