HOUSTON — Houston Rockets star Yao Ming has set up a hotline to help North American Chinese residents reach family and friends in China following a series of earthquakes there.

The latest series of quakes struck Wednesday in a remote, mountainous Tibetan region. At least 589 people have been killed and more than 10,000 are injured.

Yao, out this season after left foot surgery, created a foundation in June 2008, about a month after a massive earthquake struck the Sichuan province. Yao created his foundation with a $2 million donation to rebuild schools in the affected area.

The hotline number is (718) 766-9636. A recorded message in English and Mandarin asks the caller to enter the phone number of the person they are trying to reach in China.