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| China mourns earthquake victims | China mourns earthquake victims |
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| 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. |
| Flags are flying at half-mast and a nationwide silence has been observed to mark the time it struck a week ago. | Flags are flying at half-mast and a nationwide silence has been observed to mark the time it struck a week ago. |
| More than 71,000 people are dead, buried or missing following Monday's 7.9 magnitude quake, state media say. More than 220,000 people were injured. | More than 71,000 people are dead, buried or missing following Monday's 7.9 magnitude quake, state media say. More than 220,000 people were injured. |
| And as aid efforts continued, the media said mudslides had buried 200 relief workers in the last three days. | And as aid efforts continued, the media said mudslides had buried 200 relief workers in the last three days. |
| A local official said there had been some fatalities, but the numbers of dead and injured were not known. | A local official said there had been some fatalities, but the numbers of dead and injured were not known. |
| The workers were said to have been repairing damaged roads. Two construction machines and six vehicles were also buried, Xinhua news agency said, quoting a transport ministry official. | The workers were said to have been repairing damaged roads. Two construction machines and six vehicles were also buried, Xinhua news agency said, quoting a transport ministry official. |
| Strong aftershocks are continuing to shake the region, hampering the rescue effort. | Strong aftershocks are continuing to shake the region, hampering the rescue effort. |
| On Sunday, a tremor with a magnitude of 6.0 killed three people and injured 1,000 more in Jiangyou city, in Sichuan province's Mianyang County. | On Sunday, a tremor with a magnitude of 6.0 killed three people and injured 1,000 more in Jiangyou city, in Sichuan province's Mianyang County. |
| Town mourns as search goes onUncertain times for survivorsLife in tent city | Town mourns as search goes onUncertain times for survivorsLife in tent city |
| Continuing heavy rain in Sichuan is also raising fears of new flooding and landslides. | Continuing heavy rain in Sichuan is also raising fears of new flooding and landslides. |
| The relief effort is now shifting towards providing food, medical care and shelter for the millions of survivors. | The relief effort is now shifting towards providing food, medical care and shelter for the millions of survivors. |
| Meanwhile, the Chinese government said the country was expected to make direct economic losses of 67bn yuan ($9.5bn), approximately 0.27% of Gross Domestic Product, as a result of the disaster. | Meanwhile, the Chinese government said the country was expected to make direct economic losses of 67bn yuan ($9.5bn), approximately 0.27% of Gross Domestic Product, as a result of the disaster. |
| Sichuan is not a major industrial base, but there was extensive damage to factories and mines in neighbouring Gansu and Chongqing provinces. | Sichuan is not a major industrial base, but there was extensive damage to factories and mines in neighbouring Gansu and Chongqing provinces. |
| Trading halt | Trading halt |
| The mourning comes as hopes fade of finding many more earthquake survivors. The total number of confirmed dead rose to 34,073, the Chinese government said. | The mourning comes as hopes fade of finding many more earthquake survivors. The total number of confirmed dead rose to 34,073, the Chinese government said. |
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| Rescuers continue the search for survivors | Rescuers continue the search for survivors |
| The BBC's Quentin Somerville in Beichuan says this is the first time China as a nation has marked an occasion like this for its people. | The BBC's Quentin Somerville in Beichuan says this is the first time China as a nation has marked an occasion like this for its people. |
| 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. | 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. |
| All public entertainment has been cancelled and presenters on state television are wearing black. | All public entertainment has been cancelled and presenters on state television are wearing black. |
| At 1428 local time (0628 GMT), people across the country fell silent for three minutes as air-raid sirens and car horns wailed. | At 1428 local time (0628 GMT), people across the country fell silent for three minutes as air-raid sirens and car horns wailed. |
| QUAKE STATISTICS Up to Monday 19 May: 34,073 dead9,509 buried and 29,418 missing in Sichuan province220,109 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 | QUAKE STATISTICS Up to Monday 19 May: 34,073 dead9,509 buried and 29,418 missing in Sichuan province220,109 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 |
| Traffic froze and construction workers downed tools, while in Beijing's Tiananmen Square thousands gathered, heads bowed, for a solemn military ceremony. | Traffic froze and construction workers downed tools, while in Beijing's Tiananmen Square thousands gathered, heads bowed, for a solemn military ceremony. |
| The BBC's Michael Bristow in Beichuan reported that vehicles across the city sounded their horns to mark the event. | The BBC's Michael Bristow in Beichuan reported that vehicles across the city sounded their horns to mark the event. |
| Rescue workers laid wreaths outside the town school, resuming their work immediately after the silence. | Rescue workers laid wreaths outside the town school, resuming their work immediately after the silence. |
| Trading at stock exchanges halted while the silence was observed. | Trading at stock exchanges halted while the silence was observed. |
| China has also suspended the Olympic torch relay during the three-day mourning period. | China has also suspended the Olympic torch relay during the three-day mourning period. |
| Offers of help in the relief effort from home and abroad have now surpassed $860m (£440m), Chinese officials say. | Offers of help in the relief effort from home and abroad have now surpassed $860m (£440m), Chinese officials say. |
| 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. |
| But on its website, China's foreign ministry appealed to the international community for more tents, in what correspondents say is an indication of the magnitude of the problems faced in housing the homeless. | But on its website, China's foreign ministry appealed to the international community for more tents, in what correspondents say is an indication of the magnitude of the problems faced in housing the homeless. |
| 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. |
| More rescuesThere are still stories of survivors being pulled from the rubble. | More rescuesThere are still stories of survivors being pulled from the rubble. |
| A week on from the earthquake, an elderly woman was rescued in Beichuan county suffering from an infection and many broken bones, state media said, while another was extracted from a collapsed residential building in Deyang city. | A week on from the earthquake, an elderly woman was rescued in Beichuan county suffering from an infection and many broken bones, state media said, while another was extracted from a collapsed residential building in Deyang city. |
| But other stories illustrated how hopes for those still trapped are fading fast. | But other stories illustrated how hopes for those still trapped 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. |
| 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. |
| Persistent rain is compounding the misery for millions of people made homeless by the quake. | Persistent rain is compounding 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 weather may deteriorate, with rains turning torrential later in the week, potentially triggering landslides, Chinese forecasters said. |
Are you in the area affected by the earthquake? What are the conditions? Is aid coming through? | 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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