China quake death toll rises to 34,073

BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) — The death toll in China’s devastating earthquake rose to 34,073 as of 12:00 a.m. Monday, according to the earthquake relief headquarters of the State Council.

    And 245,108 others were injured in the 8.0-magnitude quake that jolted southwestern Sichuan Province last Monday.

    According to the Ministry of Health, about 52,934 people have been hospitalized and 7,979 have recovered while 3,304 died in hospital.

    The country of 1.3 billion people started a three-day mourning for the quake victims from Monday with flags flying at half-mast and all public amusements suspended.

    Meanwhile, the whole country has been mobilized for rescue and relief work.

    By Sunday evening, the civil affairs departments and army had sent more than 250,000 tents, 723,500 quilts, 1.78 million clothes as well as food and drinking water worth of 34.22 million yuan (4.96 million U.S. dollar) to the quake-hit regions.

    According to the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC),power supply to all quake-hit counties have been restored fully or partly, except Beichuan, Maoxian and Wolong.

    Meanwhile, IDR satellite devices have been provided for 76 of the 109 quake-hit townships where telecom service was shut off, and fixed line phone service has been reconnected in seven worst-hit counties in Sichuan as of 8:48 p.m. Sunday.