Respect for life is needed to prevent tragedies

When I arrived at a hospital that had received dozens of the wounded from Saturday's explosion at an auto parts factory in Kunshan, Jiangsu province, what popped out at me immediately was a man waving a banner at hundreds of onlookers.

"Respect the wounded. Do not take photos," the bright pink lettering on the banner shouted. A young volunteer walked up and down, stopping people from taking pictures of the partially naked burn victims who were being carried one by one out of ambulances.

From that moment on, the first word on the banner - respect - became rooted in my mind and jumped out many time during the day as a whole city mobilized to offer maximum assistance to the rescue effort.