China
Water lantern vigil for quake victims
Source: CRI | 05-20-2008 16:58
Special Report: Strong quake jolts SW ChinaMore than 400 residents in Jilin city gathered in the rain to mourn earthquake victims by floating lanterns on Songhua River on Monday evening.
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Residents in northeast China's Jinlin City, Jilin Province float water lanterns to commemorate earthquake victims on Monday, May 19, 2008. [Photo: cnsphoto] |
The participants, most of whom were volunteers with the city's Red Cross and members of the Water Lantern Association, rolled up their umbrellas and stood in a heart-shaped circle at around 6:28pm local time. Holding candles, they chanted, "Go Wenchuan! Go Sichuan! Go China!" and proceeded to float the lanterns on the river.
"We all have one wish - to commemorate the dead and pray for the well-being of the survivors," a 17-year-old student told China News Service.
The city's Water Lantern Association used about 1,000 water lanterns for the vigil, according to reports.
A 8.0-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China's Sichuan province on May 12. The official death toll rose to 34,073 as of noon on Monday.
Editor:Zhao Yan