Aftershock warning sows panic

2008-05-20 07:27

Chengdu - Thousands of people spent the night in the open in quake-ravaged south-western China amid heightened concerns on Tuesday after a government warning of another powerful aftershock.

The government of worst-hit Sichuan province said there was an increased risk of a strong aftershock in areas already devastated by last week's massive earthquake.

"There is a heightened possibility of an aftershock of between 6.0 and 7.0 magnitude on May 19 and 20 in the region of the Wenchuan 8.0 magnitude quake," a statement on the provincial government's website said.

It quoted state seismological authorities, although the statement was not posted on the websites of the relevant bureaus.

An official who answered the China Earthquake Administration's general inquiries phone number would not confirm the warning, but said to follow the advice of the Sichuan government.

Thousands pour onto streets

The warning, which residents said was later relayed by state television, prompted thousands of people to pour onto the streets of the provincial capital Chengdu.

"I plan to sleep outside in my parents' car tonight," said Liu Yi, a 21-year-old university student.

People were seen carrying bedding, chairs, clothes and other possessions as they left their homes seeking the safety of open ground.

Giant traffic jams developed as drivers headed toward the suburbs or open spaces such as parks, construction sites and stadiums.

"It's up to you, but we recommend that you sleep outside tonight," said a police officer, speaking to passers-by in the city centre late on Monday.

In the city of Mianyang closer to the epicentre near Wenchuan county, staff at a hotel urged guests to leave following the warning, an AFP journalist said.

Over 71 000 dead or missing

The number of dead, missing or buried following the quake has soared past 71 000, the top Communist Party leader in Sichuan said on Monday.

The confirmed death toll from the earthquake in Sichuan and neighbouring areas is 34&nbhsp;073, according to the central government.

China on Monday began a three-day period of mourning for the victims.

Air sirens wailed across the country and motorists stopped and blared their horns, bringing a halt to the country's usually bustling cities for three minutes from 14:28 pm (06:28 GMT) on Monday, the moment the quake struck a week earlier.

- SAPA