英语文摘:Overseas Chinese mourn Gansu mudslide victims

BEIJING, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Overseas Chinese have held memorial meetings and other mourning activities recently to remember the victims of a massive mudslide in northwest China that killed at least 1,248 people.

During a mourning ceremony on Sunday at a Chinese-language school in Christchurch, New Zealand, overseas Chinese nationals and students observed three minutes' silence for the victims and placed candles in the shape of a heart.

Participants then made donations to the mudslide-hit areas, saying they were deeply concerned about those affected by the disaster.

On the same day, some overseas Chinese and employees of Chinese companies and institutions in Serbia suspended entertainment activities voluntarily to express their condolences for the victims.

In Jordan, people from various walks of life and overseas Chinese residing in the country have offered their sympathy and condolences.

Overseas Chinese in Cambodia have called the Chinese embassy to express condolences, saying they are ready to donate for the reconstruction of the mudslide-hit region.

The death toll from the Aug. 8 massive mudslide in Zhouqu county, northwest China's Gansu province, has risen to 1,248, with 496 still missing, local disaster relief headquarters said.

China is observing a day of national mourning on Sunday, with national flags flying at half mast and all public entertainment activities suspended.