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China Begins 3 Days Of Mourning

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The Associated Press

Published: May 19, 2008

BEICHUAN, China - Flags flew at half-staff, public entertainment was canceled and 1.3 billion people were asked to observe three minutes of silence as China began three days of mourning today for the victims of the nation's massive earthquake.

Officials asked for the horns of cars, trains and ships and air raid sirens to sound as people fell silent at 2:28 p.m. - exactly one week after the quake splintered thousands of buildings and killed an estimated 50,000 people. The Olympic torch relay - a potent symbol of national pride in the countdown to August's much anticipated Beijing games - will be suspended during the mourning period, the organizing committee said.

Dozens of aftershocks have rumbled through the region, extending the damage and the fears of survivors. A magnitude 6 temblor on Sunday killed three people, injured more than 1,000 and caused further damage to houses and roads, Xinhua reported.

The confirmed death toll rose to 32,476, the State Council, China's cabinet, reported. The injured numbered more than 220,000.

Three giant pandas were missing from the Wolong Nature Reserve for endangered animals. Five staff members were killed in the quake, forestry spokesman Cao Qingyao told Xinhua. The 60 other giant pandas there were safe.

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