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China's national flag flies at half-mast
after the flag-raising ceremony on Tian'anmen Square in Beijing Monday
morning, May 19, 2008. China on Monday begins a three-day national
mourning for the tens of thousands of people killed in a powerful
earthquake which struck the country's southwest on May 12.
(Xinhua Photo)
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BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday began a
three-day national mourning for the tens of thousands of people killed in a
powerful earthquake which struck the country's southwest on May 12.
At 4:58 a.m., the national flag at the Tian'anmen
Square in downtown Beijing flew at half-mast after a complete flag-raising
ceremony.
About 2,600 people watched the flag-raising ceremony
in the square.
"I have been watching TV to know the disaster
situation these days," said Yu Huilin, a 58-year-old retired teacher. Yu just
arrived in Beijing by bus in the early hours on Monday from eastern Shandong
Province.
"It's really heartrending," she said. "But I see the
quake-affected people have got help from so many people. I believe they can
recover from the disaster soon rebuild their homes."
All national flags will fly at half-mast at home and
Chinese diplomatic missions abroad from Monday to Wednesday. Public recreational
activities will be halted during the mourning period.
At 2:28 p.m. Monday, Chinese citizens nationwide will
stand in silence for three minutes to mourn for the victims, while air raid
sirens and horns of automobiles, trains and ships will wail in grief.
In the mourning period, condolence books will be
opened in China's Foreign Ministry and Chinese embassies and consulates around
the world.
The Beijing Olympic torch relay will also be
suspended from Monday to Wednesday.
The death toll from the massive quake rose to 32,476
nationwide as of 2 p.m. Sunday, while the injured numbered 220,109, according to
the emergency response office under the State Council.
Among the dead, 31,978 were in Sichuan alone with the
rest in six other provinces and a municipality.
The quake hit Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province, at
2:28 p.m. of May 12. Many other areas were also affected.
The search, rescue and disaster relief efforts are
continuing. Some 113,080 Chinese soldiers and armed police have been mobilized
to help with rescue operations. Rescue teams from Russia, the Republic of Korea,
Japan and Singapore, as well as Taiwan and Hong Kong regions, have also joined
in relief efforts.
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Rescuers carry Shen Peiyun, who is saved
145.5 hours after Monday's earthquake, to a hospital at Yingxiu Township
of Wenchuan County, the epicenter of Monday's earthquake in southwest
China's Sichuan Province, on May 18, 2008. Fifty-three years old Shen
Peiyun was saved on Sunday after the rescuers' eight-hour efforts.(Xinhua
Photo)
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Gallery>>> |
Special
report: Strong
Earthquake Jolts SW China
National flags at Chinese diplomatic
missions fly at half-mast in mourning for quake victims
BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese embassies
and consulates in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Japan, Australia,
New Zealand and other countries flew Chinese national flags at half-mast on
Monday morning in mourning for victims in the May 12 earthquake in Sichuan,
China. Full story
China quake death toll rises to 32,477
by 14:00 Sunday
BEIJING, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from
the powerful earthquake that jolted southwest China's Sichuan Province had risen
to 32,477 nationwide as of 2 p.m. Sunday, while the number of injured reached
220,109, according to the emergency response office under the State Council. Full story
Magnitude of SW China earthquake
revised to 8.0
BEIJING, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The China
Seismological Bureau (CSB) Sunday revised the magnitude of southwest China
earthquake from 7.8 to 8.0 on the Richter scale. Full story
Chinese President expresses gratitudes
for foreign aid in quake relief
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Chinese President Hu Jintao Saturday
night speaks at a meeting on rescue and relief work of the earthquake,
expressing gratitudes to foreign countries and people who have offered aid
since a major earthquake struck the country. (Xinhua Photo)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
CHENGDU, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President
Hu Jintao Saturday night expressed gratitude to foreign countries and people who
have offered aid since a major earthquake struck the country. Full story
President Hu renews call to save lives
in remote villages
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Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) talks
with with military officers when he inspects disaster relief work in the
quake-hit Xuankou Town of Wenchuan County in southwest China's Sichuan
Province, May 17, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)
Photo
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CHENGDU, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President
Hu Jintao on Saturday urged rescue teams to reach remote villages that were
battered by the strong earthquake in the southwestern Sichuan Province as soon
as possible. Full story
Chinese President encourages quake
victims to overcome difficulties
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Chinese President Hu Jintao consoles
locals in a village in Beichuan county, May 16, 2008. He encouraged them
to be confident in overcoming hardships caused by the disaster.(Xinhua
Photo)
Photo
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BEIJING, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President
Hu Jintao Friday went to Beichuan County of Mianyang City to visit people
affected by the southwest China earthquake, encouraging them to be confident in
overcoming hardships caused by the disaster. Full story
Chinese Premier stresses all-out efforts to rescue quake
victims
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Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao presides a
meeting of the general headquarters of quake relief under the State
Council Saturday afternoon. (Xinhua Photo)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao on Saturday underscored unremitting efforts in searching and rescuing
people buried in debris in the earthquake in southwestern Sichuan Province. Full story
