Three Minutes of Silence for Sichuan Province
We started three days of national mourning today for the victims of last week's horrendous earthquake.
The period started at 2:28 pm, when we stood in silence for three minutes to mark the event which has so far claimed nearly 34,073 lives, injured 220,000, and impacted the lives of perhaps millions. (The latest estimate is that perhaps another 36,000 people are buried or missing, so the death toll is likely to rise in the coming weeks.)
To put some perspective to the vastness of the loss, if indeed the 71,000 turns out to be a correct count, this would surpass the total number of deaths from disasters which occurred in the United States or involved United States citizens since the founding of the country (war and terrorism excluded).
The period started at 2:28 pm, when we stood in silence for three minutes to mark the event which has so far claimed nearly 34,073 lives, injured 220,000, and impacted the lives of perhaps millions. (The latest estimate is that perhaps another 36,000 people are buried or missing, so the death toll is likely to rise in the coming weeks.)
To put some perspective to the vastness of the loss, if indeed the 71,000 turns out to be a correct count, this would surpass the total number of deaths from disasters which occurred in the United States or involved United States citizens since the founding of the country (war and terrorism excluded).
That is a stunning toll. I often think just how easy we have it here in the US.
Posted by Dave Sohigian on May 19, 2008 at 11:07 PM HKT #
Wow, your comment really puts it all into perspective...Such a horrible tragedy.
Posted by Aram Sohigian on May 20, 2008 at 09:58 AM HKT #