China to mourn nationwide for mudslide victims Sunday

BEIJING - China will hold mourning ceremonies Sunday to remember the over thousand people who died in mudslides that struck Zhouqu county last week.

The mudslide, which hit Zhouqu in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu province Aug 8, has left at least 1,156 people dead while 588 are still missing.

The national flag will fly at half-mast Sunday in government offices across the country and at embassies and consulates overseas, the State Council announced Saturday.

To express condolence for the mudslide victims, public entertainment will also be suspended throughout the day, China Daily reported.

Over 1,500 survivors are now living in tents or in schools while around 8,000 have sought shelter in relatives and friends’ houses, said Zhao Minxue, an official of the publicity department of Gannan prefecture.

Water and power supplies and telecommunication services in Zhouqu are gradually moving back to normal. Power has been restored in 60 percent of households while relief teams are digging new wells, the provincial information office said.

The province has received 120.4 million yuan (US$17.7 million) in cash donations and relief materials till Friday, it said.

Workers are continuing to clear the Bailong river, which overflowed after being blocked by debris, amid fears that more downpour could trigger new floods and mudslides.

They were also striving Friday to search for more bodies in the debris.

“All the soldiers have done their best,” said a survivor named Bai Chengxiang, 24. “If they could not find the remains of my aunt’s family, I will have to accept the reality.”