earthquake in India to over $120,000.

Yesterday, Premier Jennifer Smith presented the Bermuda Red Cross with a $50,000 cheque -- fulfilling a promise that they would chip in if the fund topped $50,000.

Premier Smith, said that "we have a responsibility to share our blessings with our fellow men in need'' committed matching funds for the India relief effort.

The latest contribution pushed the total over $120,000, after earlier in the week Christ Church, Warwick presented the Red Cross with a cheque for over $12,000. The church also donated $10,000 to the El Salvador Earthquake relief fund bringing that total up to over $18,000. The church raised the money with a sponsored walk, a luncheon and a collection from the congregation.

"We are very interested in community concerns,'' said Pauline Richards who heads up Christ Church's social concerns committee. "Not just in Bermuda but worldwide.'' Hundreds of thousands of people were left homeless after a series of earthquakes peaking at 7.9 on the Richter scale hit Gujarat state in western India in late January.

Earthquake relief fund tops $120,000 The quakes left at least 20,000 people dead and over 50,000 injured.

Earlier in the month, El Salvador had been hit by another massive earthquake which claimed hundreds of lives. The Bermuda Red Cross joined in an international appeal for assistance to the victims of the Indian disaster and also issued an appeal for El Salvador. The money will be forwarded to the British Red Cross, who are coordinating the relief effort and will ensure the funds go directly to the earthquake victims as they attempt to rebuild their lives.

Former US President Bill Clinton recently visited the area in a bid to raise awareness of the situation.