China plans three-day quake mourning
Sunday, 18 May 2008 20:29
Relief workers attempt to clear the destruction caused by Monday's earthquake
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China will enter three days of mourning from Monday as efforts to ensure relief reaches those in remote villages continues.
The state-run Xinhua news agency reported the suspension of public amusement, flags at half-mast and a suspension of the Olympic torch relay from tomorrow.
A three-minute silence will take place from 14:28 local time (06:28 BST) on Monday – exactly a week since the earthquake struck in the eastern province of Sichuan.
Officials today announced that the death-toll from the powerful earthquake in the province in the south-west of the country has now risen to 32,477.
There are also now 220,109 people officially reported injured, according to the state council's emergency response office.
Earlier today an aftershock hit the Chinese province of Sichuan today, after Chinese president Hu Jintao visited the region to urge rescue workers to ensure relief reaches those in remote villages.
The 147th aftershock, which followed the huge 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit the area with disastrous affects on May 12th, measured six on the Richter scale.
In his visit to Wenchuan County, the epicentre of Monday's earthquake, the Chinese president praised the efforts of the relief workers, telling them: "You should watch out and take good care of yourselves too," after experiencing the aftershock today.
He spoke of the desperate need of supplies such as food, water, tents and gasoline in many of the remote rural areas that were struck by the earthquake.
According to the China Seismological Bureau, an aftershock measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale has been the biggest to hit the region since Monday.
Mr Hu has expressed his gratitude to international aid agencies for their help following the earthquake, with officials reporting that financial relief from around the world has now surpassed £440 million.