国内英语新闻:China mourns mudslide victims as relief operation continues

ZHOUQU, Gansu, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Amid sirens and blaring horns, people across China Sunday stood in tribute to victims of a massive mudslide in a remote northwest town.

Chinese leaders, students, workers and members of the public paused for three minutes from 10 a.m. Sunday, a week after the devastating mudslide hit Zhouqu County, in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Gansu Province.

At least 1,248 people have died and 496 are listed as missing.

Chinese President Hu Jintao, top legislator Wu Bangguo, Premier Wen Jiabao and other top Chinese leaders stood and paid silent tribute to the victims at the beginning of a meeting by the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee held in Beijing on Sunday morning.

DEEP GRIEF

At the Dongjie Village in Zhouqu, more than 5,000 rescuers and villagers stood still on the debris of mudslide, bowing their heads in commemoration of those killed in the disaster.

A huge black banner hung in front of the mourners, and wreaths lay on the ground. The white lettering on the banner read, "Mourning in deep grief for deceased compatriots of the Zhouqu massive mudslide."

"I only feel sad as I stand on the debris of our homes," said villager Zhang Xiujuan.

"Although my husband, my son and I survived, I lost more than 30 relatives in the mudslide," she said.

In Dongjie, two thirds of the families were buried when the mudslide struck. And 368 of the 848 villagers died in the disaster.

Before and after the three-minute tribute, rescuers including troops and medical workers continued to clear the debris, searching for bodies and spraying disinfectant in the area.

Some survivors sat silently on the debris, still holding out hope that the bodies of relatives could be found.