CHENGDU - Public mourning was held on Saturday morning in Southwest China's Sichuan province for those who died in a 7.0-magnitude quake a week ago.

Students lower their heads during a silent tribute to the victims of Lushan April 20 earthquake, in Lushan Middle School, Ya'an city, Southwest China's Sichuan province on April 27, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua]

The public mourning began with all transportation vehicles sounding their sirens at 8:02 am, the time the devastating earthquake hit on April 20, and was followed by a silent tribute of 3 minutes.

The quake has claimed nearly 200 lives and destroyed about 126,000 homes, according to official figures.

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