34,000 Confirmed Dead in China Quake

中国开始三天全国哀悼地震遇难者

　



Chinese flags flew at half-staff to mark the beginning of a three-day mourning period for the victims of a massive earthquake that struck southwestern China one week ago. More than 34,000 people have been confirmed dead, and the casualties now include rescue workers.

　

中国星期一开始为期三天的全国哀悼，为一周前四川大地震的死难者降半旗。已经证实的死难者是3万4千多人，伤亡人员还包括救援工作者。

The sound of grief was heard all across China.

　

中国各地星期一响起了致哀的鸣笛声。

For several minutes, at the exact time in the afternoon the quake struck in Sichuan Province one week ago, cars stopped and blared their horns. Chinese people came out on the streets and bowed their heads, in remembrance of the quake victims.

　

就在一周前下午大地震袭击四川省的那一时刻，全中国所有的汽车停驶，鸣响喇叭，中国民众纷纷走出建筑物，在街道上低头默哀，为地震死难者致哀数分钟。

One Beijing shopkeeper said he paid his respects, even though he has no relatives or friends in Sichuan, which is 1500 kilometers away.

　

北京距离四川地震灾区1500公里。北京一家商店的店主说，他在四川没有亲戚朋友，不过他仍然致敬默哀。

It is not so far away, he says. We all feel their sadness. We all have the same emotions.

　

他说：“离北京不远，我们感觉出来了，就是说心是一样的。”

One 11-year-old student said she hopes people in the quake zone can get their lives back together.

　

一名11岁的女学生说，她希望地震灾区的人民能够重新站起来继续生活。

She says she hopes they can also rebuild their homes and unite together to overcome the disaster.

　

她说：“希望那里的人很快就有一个家，亲人们能够从废墟中找到自己的亲人。”

This optimism is easier said than done, though. As Chinese around the world grieved for the victims of the quake, official news reports indicated that the casualties may now include relief workers. China's official Xinhua News Agency reports that mudslides in the past few days have buried more than 200 relief workers who have been repairing roads around Wenchuan, near the quake's epicenter.

　

这种乐观主义精神说起来容易，做起来难。正当世界各地的中国人哀悼地震死难者之际，官方媒体报导，死难者现在还包括救援人员。中国官方新华社报导，在过去几天里发生的泥石流已经掩埋了两百多名救援人员，这些救援人员在靠近地震震中的汶川附近修整道路。

China Seismological Bureau experts finished reviewing data from last week's quake and have revised its magnitude upward, to 8 on the Richter Scale.

　

中国地震局的专家结束了审核上周发生地震的数据，已经把地震级别上调到里氏8级。

Monday marks the beginning of three days of nationwide mourning. During this time, the Olympic torch relay has been suspended and all public entertainment has been canceled.

　

在星期一开始的为期三天的全国哀悼期间，奥林匹克火炬接力活动中断，取消一切公共娱乐活动。

And despite the passage of time, rescuers have still been able to find survivors. Official media report that on Monday, at least two women were pulled out of the rubble, alive.

　

尽管时间不断流逝，救援人员仍能从废墟中找到幸存者。官方媒体报导说，他们星期一从废墟中救出至少两名妇女，她们还都活着。