China's national flag flies at half-mast after the flag-raising ceremony on Tian'anmen Square in Beijing Monday morning, May 19, 2008. China on Monday begins a three-day national mourning for the tens of thousands of people killed in a powerful earthquake which struck the country's southwest on May 12. (Xinhua Photo)
BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday began a three-day national mourning for the tens of thousands of people killed in a powerful earthquake which struck the country's southwest on May 12.
At 4:58 a.m., the national flag at the Tian'anmen Square in downtown Beijing flew at half-mast after a complete flag-raising ceremony.
About 2,600 people watched the flag-raising ceremony in the square.
"I have been watching TV to know the disaster situation these days," said Yu Huilin, a 58-year-old retired teacher. Yu just arrived in Beijing by bus in the early hours on Monday from eastern Shandong Province.
"It's really heartrending," she said. "But I see the quake-affected people have got help from so many people. I believe they can recover from the disaster soon rebuild their homes."
All national flags will fly at half-mast at home and Chinese diplomatic missions abroad from Monday to Wednesday. Public recreational activities will be halted during the mourning period.
At 2:28 p.m. Monday, Chinese citizens nationwide will stand in silence for three minutes to mourn for the victims, while air raid sirens and horns of automobiles, trains and ships will wail in grief.
In the mourning period, condolence books will be opened in China's Foreign Ministry and Chinese embassies and consulates around the world.
The Beijing Olympic torch relay will also be suspended from Monday to Wednesday.
The death toll from the massive quake rose to 32,476 nationwide as of 2 p.m. Sunday, while the injured numbered 220,109, according to the emergency response office under the State Council.
Among the dead, 31,978 were in Sichuan alone with the rest in six other provinces and a municipality.
The quake hit Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province, at 2:28 p.m. of May 12. Many other areas were also affected.
The search, rescue and disaster relief efforts are continuing. Some 113,080 Chinese soldiers and armed police have been mobilized to help with rescue operations. Rescue teams from Russia, the Republic of Korea, Japan and Singapore, as well as Taiwan and Hong Kong regions, have also joined in relief efforts.
Source: Xinhua
译文:
中国举国上下为地震遇难者哀悼3天
2008年5月19日，星期一早晨北京天安门广场上升旗仪式过后降半旗。从星期一开始，中国举国上下为在发生在中国西南四川省的5.12强烈地震中遇难的同胞哀悼3天。（新华社供图）
北京，5月19日（新华社）--从星期一开始，中国举国上下为在发生在中国西南部的5.12强烈地震中遇难的同胞哀悼3天。
早晨4时58分，在北京市区的天安门广场，升旗仪式结束后国旗降半旗。
广场上大约2，600人观看了升旗仪式。
“这些天我一直通过电视了解受灾情况”，58岁的退休教师于慧林说。星期一凌晨于老师刚从山东省东部赶达北京。
“灾区的惨状让人心碎啊," 她说。 “但是一方有难，八方支援，受灾群众已经得到全社会的帮助。我相信他们一定能够战胜灾难重建家园。”
周一至周三，中国境内以及驻外大使馆，国旗一律降半旗，期间暂停一切公共娱乐活动。
5月19日下午2时28分起，全国人民起立默哀三分钟，届时汽车，火车，舰船鸣笛，防空警报鸣响。
全国哀悼日期间，外交部及我国驻外大使馆领事馆将设立吊唁簿。
北京奥运圣火传递将暂停3天。
根据国家立法会应急响应办公室，截至18日下午2时，死亡人数已经上升到32，476，受伤人数为220，109.
仅在四川，共有31，978人死亡，其他六省及一个自治市的总死亡人数为498（甘肃，陕西，河南，湖北，云南，贵州，重庆自治市)。
5月12日下午2时28分，四川省汶川县发生地震，其他地区也有灾情，部分地区有震感。
抗震救灾工作仍在进行。约113，080名官兵和武警战士已奔赴灾区救援。来自俄罗斯，韩国，日本，新加坡，台湾，香港等国家和地区的救援队也加入到抗震救灾工作中。
新闻来源：新华社