The 25-year-old had heard that the restaurant on Smith Street was being used as an information centre by the Tian Fu Club, an association for immigrants from Sichuan in Singapore.

The petite waitress, who came to Singapore two years ago and works in a nearby restaurant, has not been able to contact her family in Maoxian county, about 40km north-east of Wenchuan country - the epicentre of the earthquake.

Since learning of the disaster on Monday evening, she has been calling home frantically, trying to reach her parents, brother, sister-in-law and their child.

Xinhua news agency said houses had toppled in Maoxian, while road links, communications and supplies of water and power had been cut.

Ms Wang wept as she spoke to reporters, saying she calls home every hour, hoping someone will answer the telephone.

'I've been trying to think positively, but I've not been able to concentrate on my work. Luckily, my boss has been understanding,' she said.

If she gets no news, she hopes to go to Sichuan to look for her family. About 30 of her friends have already left for their home towns in Sichuan.

Tian Fu Club members took down her particulars and promised to contact her if their contacts in Sichuan are able to check on her family's situation.

She calmed down and returned to work, continuing to serve customers who were totally unaware of her plight.

aprilc@sph.com.sg