China opens quake-leveled county to mourners for anniversary

Source: Xinhua | 05-11-2009 08:31

BEICHUAN, Sichuan, May 10 (Xinhua) -- The quake-devastated Beichuan county seat in southwest China's Sichuan Province reopened Sunday to residents to mourn the dead ahead of the first anniversary of the disaster.

The quake-devastated Beichuan county seat in southwest  China's Sichuan Province reopened Sunday to residents to  mourn the dead ahead of the first anniversary of the disaster.

Some 21,000 people, or two-thirds of the county seat's population, were dead or missing in the 8.0-magnitude earthquake on May 12 last year, making the county the worst hit in the quake.

The county will be open for four days till Wednesday.

Mourners brought flowers, incense and candles and set off firecrackers in the ruins of former bus stations, county government buildings and homes. The police distributed bottled water to the crowd for free.

"I come here today to tell my mom that dad, sister and I will live a better life. I miss her and I will often come to see her," said Zheng Chengrong, a student who returned from a vocational college in Mianyang City and dedicated flowers to her mother.

Zheng's younger sister studies at Beichuan Middle School, where more than 1,000 students were dead or missing in the quake. Construction of the new school will begin on May 12.