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Nationwide mourning held for quake dead
(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-04-22 07:02
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The nation came together in mourning on Wednesday in remembrance of the more than 2,000 people killed in the devastating quake that hit Yushu, Qinghai province, on April 14.
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In Beijing, President Hu Jintao, along with other leaders, led a silent tribute "to express our profound condolences" during a Standing Committee meeting of the political bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.
All entertainment, including online games and sports events, was halted. Newspapers across the country were printed in black and white, and Internet portals like Sina and Baidu displayed gray-colored homepages to reflect the grave mood.
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Venues were open to visitors at Shanghai World Expo on Wednesday, but all entertainment performances were suspended.
By Wednesday, the death toll in Yushu had risen to 2,183, with 84 missing.
According to the rescue and relief headquarters, rescuers have been sent to all quake-hit villages, and those injured in the quake have been hospitalized, with all those in serious conditions shifted to other cities.
People left homeless have been resettled in makeshift homes and tents, while electricity and telecommunications have been restored.
In Gyegu, the epicenter, about 1,000 people including survivors and rescuers gathered in front of the town hall, with the rubble of collapsed buildings behind them, at 10 am and observed three minutes of silence.
Yeshe Chodrak, an 11-year-old girl, could not hold back her tears, repeatedly saying: "My heart aches."
Local worker Bkra-shis Dawa, who attended the ceremony at King Gesar Square in Gyegu, suddenly fell to his knees and burst into tears. The 40-year-old told China Daily he wants to thank those who have been helping the devastated town recover.
"Let's transform grief into strength to rebuild our homes," said Jia Yingzhong, a top official in Yushu, at the ceremony.
Wednesday marks the seventh day after the quake, a time for religious rituals according to Buddhist traditions.
Qiang Wei, Party chief of Qinghai province, called on people to unite and rebuild in the wake of the quake.
"The earthquake showed no mercy, but we have love. Let us wipe our tears off ... and strive to meet a brighter tomorrow and let a more beautiful and wealthy Yushu stand on the vast Qinghai-Tibet Plateau," he said.
At Tian'anmen Square in central Beijing, thousands gathered to see the national flag-raising ceremony at 5:30 am. The flag was hoisted to the tune of the national anthem till it reached the top, and then brought down slowly to half-mast.
It reminded people of a similar scene shortly after the Sichuan quake in May 2008.
"This is the third time I have come to see the flag-raising ceremony at Tian'anmen Square, and this time is the most special. I feel so sad," said a woman surnamed Li from Liaoning province.
Li said she decided to come to Beijing and attend the ceremony as soon as she learnt of the national mourning.
"I want to tell people in Yushu that they are not alone. We all stand by their side," Li said.
Dozens of primary school students stood in line and shouted in unison: "Yushu stands strong." They were part of the 600 students from Langfang No 12 Primary School in Hebei province, who set off at 2:30 am to arrive in Beijing for the ceremony, said Liu Ying, their teacher.
"We have donated for Yushu. We hope to help people there build a bright future," Liu said.
Zhang Jin and Zuo Likun in Geygu; Wang Huazhong and Tong Hao in Beijing; and Xinhua contributed to the story.
