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China Declares Day of Mourning for Landslide Victims

   VOA News 14 August 2010
   A  Chinese  man  reacts,  after  a  mudslide swept through the town of
   Zhouqu  in Gannan prefecture in northwestern China's Gansu province on
   12 Aug 2010

Photo: AP

   A  Chinese  man  reacts,  after  a  mudslide swept through the town of
   Zhouqu in Gannan prefecture in northwestern China's Gansu province, 12
   Aug 2010

   China  on  Saturday  declared a national day of mourning for more than
   1,150 victims of massive landslides in the remote northwest.
   China's  State  Council,  or Cabinet, ordered flags across the country
   and  at  embassies  and  consulates  around the world to be lowered to
   half-staff  on  Sunday to commemorate those killed in the landslides a
   week ago in the town of Zhouqu, Gansu province.
   Authorities  say  588  people  are  still  missing and heavy rains are
   forecast  for  the  coming  days,  making  things  more  difficult for
   soldiers  working  around  the clock to clear Gansu's Bailong River of
   debris.   Officials  fear  that  further  rain,  combined  with river
   blockage, could cause more flooding in Zhouqu.
   The  official  Xinhua  news  agency  said Saturday that relief workers
   continue  to  gradually  restore  water,  power  and telecommunication
   services in Zhouqu.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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