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China mourns earthquake victims China mourns earthquake victims
(30 minutes later)
China has begun three days of mourning for the victims of the devastating earthquake in Sichuan province.China has begun three days of mourning for the victims of the devastating earthquake in Sichuan province.
In Tiananmen Square, the flag flew at half-mast. Later, a nationwide silence will be observed to mark the moment the quake struck at 1428 (0628 GMT). Flags are flying at half-mast and at 1428 (0628 GMT) a nationwide silence will be observed to mark exactly a week since the earthquake struck.
The mourning comes as hopes of finding more survivors in the rubble fade.The mourning comes as hopes of finding more survivors in the rubble fade.
The number of confirmed deaths now stands at 32,477, but officials say the final toll may reach 50,000. More than 220,000 people have been injured.The number of confirmed deaths now stands at 32,477, but officials say the final toll may reach 50,000. More than 220,000 people have been injured.
The focus of the relief effort is now shifting towards providing food, medical care and shelter for the millions of people affected by the disaster. The focus of the relief effort is now shifting towards providing food, medical care and shelter for the millions of people affected by last Monday's 7.9 magnitude earthquake.
China has also suspended the Olympic torch relay while the period of mourning is under way. Strong aftershocks are continuing to shake the region, hampering the rescue effort.
'Heartfelt thanks' On Sunday, a tremor with a magnitude of 6.0 killed three people and injured 1,000 more in Jiangyou city. Thousands ran from their homes into the streets in panic, reports said.
On Sunday, Chinese President Hu Jintao expressed gratitude for the international help with relief efforts following Monday's magnitude 7.9 quake. Continuing heavy rain in Sichuan is also raising fears of new flooding and landslides.
QUAKE STATISTICS Up to Sunday 18 May: 32,477 dead220,109 injured145 aftershocks above level 4, 23 above level 5, biggest 6.1 34,000 medical staff in quake zone181,460 tents, 220,000 quilts despatched6bn Chinese yuan ($860m, £440m) received in donations, from China and abroadDrinking water for 7m people restored Source: Chinese government class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7406275.stm">In pictures: Beichuan evacuation class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7400614.stm">See a detailed map of quake zone "I express heartfelt thanks to the foreign governments and international friends," Mr Hu was quoted as saying by the state-run Xinhua news agency. Trading halt
Offers of help from home and abroad have now surpassed $860m (£440m), Chinese officials say. At a dawn ceremony in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, soldiers raised the national flag and then lowered it to half-mast to mark the start of official mourning.
Uncertain times for survivorsDams pose flooding riskLife in tent city
All public entertainment has been cancelled and presenters on state television wore black.
At 1428, people across the country will fall silent for three minutes as air raid sirens and car horns sound.
Trading at stock exchanges will halt while the silence is observed.
China has also suspended the Olympic torch relay during the three-day mourning period.
On Sunday, Chinese President Hu Jintao expressed gratitude for the international help with relief efforts.
"I express heartfelt thanks to the foreign governments and international friends," Mr Hu was quoted as saying by the state-run Xinhua news agency.
Offers of help in the relief effort from home and abroad have now surpassed $860m (£440m), Chinese officials say.
QUAKE STATISTICS Up to Sunday 18 May: 32,477 dead220,109 injured145 aftershocks above level 4, 23 above level 5, biggest 6.1 34,000 medical staff in quake zone181,460 tents, 220,000 quilts despatched6bn Chinese yuan ($860m, £440m) received in donations, from China and abroadDrinking water for 7m people restored Source: Chinese government In pictures: Beichuan evacuationSee a detailed map of quake zone
The first aid supplied by the US has arrived, with an air force plane loaded with tents, lanterns and 15,000 meals landing in Sichuan's provincial capital, Chengdu.The first aid supplied by the US has arrived, with an air force plane loaded with tents, lanterns and 15,000 meals landing in Sichuan's provincial capital, Chengdu.
However, a British rescue team standing by in Hong Kong is returning home after being refused permission to travel to the earthquake zone.However, a British rescue team standing by in Hong Kong is returning home after being refused permission to travel to the earthquake zone.
Rescue efforts have resumed in Beichuan, after the city was evacuated amid fears that it could be engulfed by a river bursting its banks.
The city, which lies near the epicentre of the quake, was reduced to ruins.
Aftershocks
There are still stories of survivors being pulled from the rubble.There are still stories of survivors being pulled from the rubble.
One man who was rescued on Sunday, Tang Xiong, had only had slight bruises and was conscious when he was rescued in Beichuan county 139 hours after the quake, Xinhua said.One man who was rescued on Sunday, Tang Xiong, had only had slight bruises and was conscious when he was rescued in Beichuan county 139 hours after the quake, Xinhua said.
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The rescue operation continues
A 53-year-old man was pulled from the rubble in the town of Yingxiu in Wenchuan county after surviving for 148 hours, state media said.
Rescue workers worked for eight hours to save him.
But other stories illustrated how hopes for those beneath the rubble are fading fast.But other stories illustrated how hopes for those beneath the rubble are fading fast.
Video pictures emerged of a man wedged under fallen masonry. He was still alive, and was lent a phone to speak to his wife.Video pictures emerged of a man wedged under fallen masonry. He was still alive, and was lent a phone to speak to his wife.
"I don't hold out much hope of surviving," he told her."I don't hold out much hope of surviving," he told her.
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The rescue operation continues
Rescuers later managed to extract him, but not in time to save his life.Rescuers later managed to extract him, but not in time to save his life.
Strong aftershocks have been continuing, some causing landslides. Persistent rain is compounding the misery for millions of people made homeless by the quake.
One measuring 6.0 on Sunday killed three people and injured more than 1,000, Xinhua reported. And the weather may deteriorate, with rains turning torrential later in the week, potentially triggering landslides, Chinese forecasters said.
Three giant pandas are missing from the Wolong Nature Reserve, Xinhua reports. All the pandas at the reserve were initially reported safe. On Sunday, the World Health Organization warned that rising temperatures in Sichuan, combined with a lack of clean water and waste disposal, and cramped conditions in makeshift camps, could lead to outbreaks of disease.
Uncertain times for survivorsDams pose flooding riskLife in tent city
Nuclear facilities in the affected area have been confirmed to be safe, the ministry of environmental protection's Nuclear Safety Department said, Xinhua has reported.
China has a research reactor, two nuclear fuel production sites and two nuclear weapon facilities in Sichuan, all between 60-145km (40-90 miles) from the epicentre, according to the French Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety.
Persistent rain compounded the misery for millions of people made homeless by the quake. And the weather may deteriorate, with rains turning torrential later in the week, potentially triggering landslides, Chinese forecasters said.
And the World Health Organization warned that rising temperatures in Sichuan, combined with a lack of clean water and waste disposal, and cramped conditions in makeshift camps, could be conducive to outbreaks of disease.
Are you in the area affected by the earthquake? What are the conditions? Is aid coming through? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below or text your experiences to: +44 7624 800 100
Are you in the area affected by the earthquake? What are the conditions? Is aid coming through? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below or text your experiences to: +44 7624 800 100
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