The Chinese government announced a national day of mourning Wednesday, one week after the earthquake that killed more than 2,000 killed in north-west.

The Chinese government said Tuesday it had declared a national day of mourning Wednesday, one week after the earthquake that killed more than 2,000 killed in north-west of the country.

All flags on official buildings and embassies in China of foreign countries will be at half mast in mourning, and all public recreational activities will be suspended throughout the country, said the Business Council of State on its website.

Tuesday, six days after the earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 in Qinghai province, the toll stood at 2,039 dead, 195 wounded and 12 315 missing.

Some 13 000 rescuers were sent to the scene, but the delivery of assistance is difficult because the disaster area, located at 4000 meters altitude on the Tibetan Plateau is more than 12 hours from the provincial capital. The freezing temperatures and lack of oxygen complicate even more the work of rescuers.

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