China mourns mudslide victims with half-mast flags

BEIJING - Thousands of Chinese hoisted their national flag half-mast at Beijing’s Tian’anmen Square Sunday to mourn the death of over 12,000 people and misery of thousands others in the wake of the massive mudslides in the country.

A flag at half-mast is also seen at Xinhuamen, the main entrance of Zhongnanhai, the headquarters of the Communist Party of China and the central government, as part of the one-day national mourning announced by the State Council, Xinhua reported.

The mudslide hit Zhouqu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in southern Gansu Province, Aug 8, leaving 1,239 people dead and 505 missing.

Soon after Sunday midnight, Chinese websites turned to black and white in a show of mourning. Movies and online entertainments including games and music are set to be suspended through the day, according to a circular issued by the culture ministry.

Earlier, China observed a three-day national mourning after 2008 Sichuan earthquake, and a one-day mourning after the Yushu quake April 14 this year.