China quake survivors look to start again

MIANYANG, China (Reuters) - Having lost loved ones andtheir homes to an earthquake and then what was left of theirbelongings to floodwaters, victims of China's worst disaster indecades spoke stoically of starting again on Wednesday.

But many did not know when, if ever, they could return totheir homes in China's southwestern Sichuan province to beginrebuilding.

"Our home was OK, it wasn't flooded, and that's a bigrelief," said Wang Shangqin, a farmer from Zhonghe Village nextto the river. Like his neighbours, he had been moved to a tentcamp on a ridge above his quake-damaged home.

"We still don't know when we'll be allowed back ... I knowthat safety is important, but we also want to farm, and gettingto our fields takes ages from here."

Floodwaters receded on Wednesday, easing an emergency thathad menaced areas already devastated by an earthquake whichkilled tens of thousands and had left millions without homes.

Waters poured out of the Tangjiashan quake lake, thelargest of more than 30 caused by quake-triggered landslides,after soldiers blasted away mud and rubble blocking a sluice.

River levels downstream in Mianyang fell on Wednesday aftera torrent of muddy water rushed near the town, bringing trees,household debris, televisions and the occasional body.

Residents expressed relief, but many also said they did notknow when, if ever, they could return closer to quake-damagedhomes beside the river to begin rebuilding.

"It came very close yesterday, but the water didn't entermy home so now I feel very relieved," said farmer Huang Yuanqi,72, on the river bank opposite his damaged home at QinglianTown near Mianyang. "We can't wait until we can get out ofthese tents and back to our homes....We haven't been told whenthat will happen."

Soldiers remained on guard around low-lying parts nearMianyang, warning residents not to enter or registering thoseallowed into home villages to farm or tend livestock.

SCHOOL CHECKS

China announced nationwide safety checks for schools -- avolatile issue after many collapsed in the May 12 quake, evenwhile nearby government offices and apartments stayed upright.

The toll from last month's 7.9 magnitude quake stands atnearly 87,000 dead or missing. At least 9,000 children diedunder schools that collapsed.

"Local governments must carry out a thorough quality checkon the public facilities from kindergartens to universities,like school buildings, dorms and public bathrooms," a notice onthe Ministry of Education website (www.moe.edu.cn) said.

"For these potentially dangerous buildings, we must stopusing them and set up a database for future research."

Brick buildings built before 2001 would be paid specialattention, the notice added.

The government has been asked repeatedly why so manyschools toppled in the quake. Grieving parents in devastatedrural communities have protested against shoddy buildings andclaimed corruption.

Lin Qiang, vice inspector of the Sichuan provincialeducational department, said last month collapsed buildingsmight have been more solid "if we educational officials hadn'tleft loopholes for corruption".

(Additional reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing byJeremy Laurence)