Special
report: Strong
Earthquake Jolts SW China
LIMA,
May 16 (Xinhua) -- The Peruvian government passed on Friday a
supreme ordinance, setting May 19th as a national mourning day for
Chinese earthquake victims.
According
to the ordinance, signed by President Alan Garcia and his cabinet
members, the Peruvian national flag will be raised half mast on May
19th in governmental, military and public buildings all over the
country and its overseas missions.
The
death toll from the 7.8-magnitude earthquake in China's Sichuan
province rose to 22,069 nationwide as of 2 p.m. (0600 GMT) Friday,
while the rescue headquarters feared the ultimate figure might top
50,000.