- Title: CHINA: China mourns Sichuan earthquake victims
- Date: 19th May 2008
- Summary: (W2) CHENGDU, SICHUAN PROVINCE, CHINA (MAY 19, 2008) (REUTERS) PEOPLE CHANTING "CHEER UP CHINA" (3 SHOTS)
- Embargoed: 3rd June 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: China
- City:
- Country: China
- Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA9RNK4K8KQG0GC7NH38C19V7P
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: China's rulers lead the country in mourning victims of the Sichuan earthquake, as a grief-stricken nation observes three minutes silence in a show of unity.
Across China, people stopped and stood in silence for three minutes on Monday (May 19), to remember the tens of thousands who were killed in a massive earthquake that hit the southwestern part of the country a week ago.
Flags flew at half mast across China and the Olympic torch relay was suspended as the country began three days of mourning.
In Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province where the earthquake epicentre is located, wreaths were set up the city's landmark, Tianfu Square, where thousands gathered to mourn the victims at 2:29 pm (0628 GMT).
In Miyanyang, a city close to one of the worst-hit areas, more than 25,000 evacuees stood outside the Jiuzhou stadium to mourn their family and friends.
Survivors stood side by side with volunteers and soldiers as sirens signalled the three minutes of silence.
More than a thousand kilometres away in the capital Beijing, people flocked to Tiananmen Square.
President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao who had both visited the earthquake-ravaged areas in the days immediately after the disaster struck, stood with other senior Chinese officials in Beijing, with bowed heads.
In Hong Kong, Chief Executive Donald Tsang and senior government officials also joined observed the moment the silence, as passing drivers honked their horns as a symbolic gesture of mourning.
Following the silence, crowds chanted words of encouragement to survivors, as many were overcome with emotion.
"It was unbearable, it was so unbearable. I lost so many of my relatives," said Nian Mao, an earthquake survivor from Beichuan, one of the worst hit areas.
Cheng Guozhen came to Tiananmen to join the crowds and show his support, he said the demonstration was a display of solidarity.
"Sichuan's earthquake has hit us all, every Chinese person is moved by it and we have to demonstrate our support," he said.
The death toll is expected to exceed 50,000 in the earthquake ravaged province and millions of people have been left homeless, forced to move to emergency camps set up by rescue teams. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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