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Tents are our top need: China

— PHOTO: Xinhua/Long Hongtao

PAYING RESPECTS: Citizens of Changsha, capital of central south China’s Hunan Province, pay a silent tribute to the earthquake victims on Monday. A three-day national mourning is being observed for victims of the May 12 quake that claimed more than 34,000 lives in southwest and northwest.

BEIJING: China has requested the international community to offer tents among other relief donations to survivors in quake-hit Sichuan. Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said on Monday: “China would like the international community to give priority to tents when providing relief materials.”

Citing information from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Mr. Qin said many tents were required to shelter victims whose houses collapsed in the quakes, especially as it’s raining in the affected areas now.

Millions of people in China and overseas observed three minutes silence at 2:28 p.m. on Monday in memory of the victims of last week’s earthquake. President Hu Jintao, top legislator Wu Bangguo, Premier Wen Jiabao and leaders including Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang stood in silence here.

The quake has killed at least 34,073 people and officials said the final toll could exceed 50,000. Across the country, sirens and horns wailed and people fell silent. China Central TV darkened its screen. In the headquarters of the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympics, employees gathered in front of their office building, facing towards Sichuan, in a silent tribute. In Tiananmen Square, thousands of people shouted “Go, Go, China!”, “Brave and strong, China!” and “Brave and Strong, Wenchuan!”, and “Hang on, Sichuan!”

Financial markets suspended trading for three minutes. Some traders said people had asked about buying stocks of Sichuan-based companies to show support.

— Photo: Xinhua

Children mourn quake victims, in Wuhu in Anhui Province on Monday The candles depict the date of the quake.

Though rescuers are being challenged by the rugged terrain and aftershocks in Sichuan, more than 1,00,000 soldiers and rescuers were still searching for survivors. “The earthquake took away people’s lives, but it will not frighten the brave Chinese people into retreat. We will get over the hardships and a stronger China will have a better future,” said He Bin, a police officer of Anhui Provincial Public Security Department.

More than 200 workers were buried in the past two days by frequent mudflows while repairing roads damaged by the earthquake, said Transport Ministry official Dai Dongchang on Monday. Two construction machines and six vehicles were also buried in the mud flows..

Landslips, mudflows and aftershocks were frequent after the quake. Blocked rivers swollen by heavy rain threatened to burst their banks. Mr. Dai said workers risked their lives repairing three major roads connecting Wenchuan and neighbouring counties. By Monday, traffic had resumed on these roads. — Xinhua

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