Special report: Strong Earthquake Jolts SW China

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) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in China's devastating earthquake rose to 34,073 as of noon on Monday, according to the earthquake relief headquarters of the State Council (cabinet).

    Another 245,108 people were injured in the 8.0-magnitude quake that jolted southwestern Sichuan Province last Monday.

    According to the Ministry of Health, about 52,934 people have been hospitalized and 7,979 have recovered, while 3,304 died in hospital.

    China began a three-day mourning period for the victims on Monday, with flags flying at half-staff and public amusements suspended.

    Meanwhile, the country has been mobilized for rescue and relief work.

    As of Sunday evening, the civil affairs departments and army had sent more than 250,000 tents, 723,500 quilts, 1.78 million pieces of clothes and food and water worth 34.22 million yuan (4.96 million U.S. dollar) to the quake-hit regions.

    According to the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC), power supply to all quake-stricken counties has been restored at least partly, except for Beichuan, Maoxian and Wolong.

    Satellite devices have been provided to 76 of the 109 townships where telecom service was shut off, and fixed line phone service was reconnected in the seven worst-hit counties in Sichuan as of 8:48 p.m. Sunday.

    The State Disaster Relief Commission and Ministry of Science and Technology established an expert team here on Monday. Academic and government experts will evaluate the quake intensity, the geographic impact, other natural disasters caused by earthquakes and solutions, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The team will submit comprehensive proposals to decision makers, it said.

    The Ministry of Public Security confirmed that no serious crimes had taken place in quake-hit regions. "Local society remained stable and in order," the ministry said in a statement on Monday.

    Police have improved security at hospitals, temporary shelters, medical camps, warehouses for relief material, banks and public utilities, it said.

    The ministry asked local police to improve patrols and security checks in quake-hit residential areas as residents move to shelters. "They will crack down upon any criminals sneaking into victims' house and stealing properties," the statement said.  

Millions mourn China earthquake dead with air sirens wailing in grief

    BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Millions of people in China and overseas observed three minutes silence at 2:28 p.m. Monday to mourn thousands of people killed in an earthquake which hit the nation's southwest a week ago.

    Chinese President Hu Jintao, top legislator Wu Bangguo, Premier Wen Jiabao, and other top leaders including Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang also stood in silence in the central government compound of Zhongnanhai in Beijing. Full story

China begins three-day mourning for quake victims

The students of senior 3 at Beichuan Higher Middle School attend a ceremony of resuming classs at a temporary school in quake-hit Mianyang city, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 19, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    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. Full story

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

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

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 

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 Gallery>>>

    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

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 Gallery>>>

    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

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

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