| The death toll and the missing from the massive | | | | 200 relief workers had been buried by mud slides |
| 7.9 magnitude earthquake in China is now over | | | | in recent days. |
| 71,000 with tens of thousands missing, and more | | | | The official death toll now stands at 34,073, but |
| the 5,000,000 homeless. China's government has | | | | tens of thousands are know still buried under the |
| appealed for international aid at the beginning of a | | | | rubble. Many bodies lay by roadsides in body bags |
| three-day period of mourning for tens of | | | | or wrapped in plastic sheeting, as authorities |
| thousands of people killed by a huge earthquake: | | | | struggled to dig burial pits and crematoriums |
| an unprecedented act for China. | | | | worked overtime. Much like cyclone Nargis that |
| The country's 1.3 billion population observed three | | | | slammed into Burma two weeks ago, the death |
| minutes of silence exactly seven days after the | | | | tool is just too staggering to comprehend let |
| tremor left an estimated 71,000 people dead. The | | | | alone handle. |
| horns of cars, trains and ships sounded with air | | | | China issued an international appeal for donations |
| raid sirens to mark the moment, at 6.28am GMT. | | | | of tents to provide shelter for millions of |
| The massive earthquake was one of the | | | | homeless earthquake survivors. "Because the |
| strongest in recent times. | | | | Sichuan earthquake destroyed vast numbers of |
| The mourning period begins as hope of finding | | | | homes in a region that is in its rainy season, we |
| more trapped survivors dwindled, and the need to | | | | urgently need a large number of tents," said |
| prevent hunger and disease among the homeless | | | | foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang. "We hope |
| became more pressing. Hundreds of aftershocks | | | | that the international community will put tents as |
| and continuing bad weather hampered the rescue | | | | the first priority when they supply aid." |
| operation. The Transport Ministry said more than | | | | Adn they are! |