If there is one blessing that can be redeemed from the earthquake's severe destruction, it is that widespread panic among the public was averted.

The China Youth Daily carried a commentary praising the government for letting truth run ahead of rumor, and points to the calm and rational attitude of the general public as a measure both of timeliness and openness of information and of lessons learned in the past.

Within 10 minutes of the quake, China's Earthquake Administration delivered the news through Xinhua News Agency.

Mobile-phone messaging, television, radio, and internet were also used to convey the latest information to the public.

The article also commends authorities for quashing a rumor that Beijing would be hit by seismic activity on Monday evening.

The paper concluded that the government has proven its ability to handle emergencies, and that open dissemination of information can forestall rumor and panic.

Dreadful as the earthquake was, its impact could have been much worse if it had thrown the whole nation into a state of fear.

Relevant government authorities should therefore promote openness and timely information about rescue and reconstruction, the article said.

China's Decree of Government Information Openness has been in place since May 1st.