SICHUAN TO HOLD CEREMONY ON 3RD ANNIVERSARY OF WENCHUAN EARTHQUAKE

SICHUAN, China, May 12 (Bernama) -- The Beichuan county will hold a public ceremony in memory of the victims of the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, according to local media reports.

Beichuan authorities, officers, military officers, students, public
representatives of enterprises and media outlets are expected to attend the ceremony marking the third anniversary of the earthquake, a report quoting a source at the Beichuan authorities' publicity office said.

Two-thirds of the county's population, or almost 21,000 residents, were killed or went missing after the 8.0-magnitude earthquake on May 12, 2008, making the county the worst-hit area after the earthquake.

Beichuan county authorities are limiting the number of people entering the area due to a reconstruction project that is in progress. Residents need to show identity cards or valid documents to enter during the open days from May 10 to 12.

More than 100,000 residents mourned for their loved ones who died in the earthquake two days before the open days.

An 8.0-magnitude earthquake hit Sichuan and neighbouring Gansu and Shaanxi provinces on May 12, 2008. The tragedy left 87,000 people dead or missing.