Newborn's cries bring about hope amid earthquake
By Echo Shan (newsphoto)
Updated: 2005-12-13 15:01

A new born baby cries as his mother looks at him in the open in a village of Jiujiang county, east China's Jiangxi province, November 27, 2005. An earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale killed 16 people, injured nearly 400 and destroyed 8,500 homes in Jiangxi province, Xinhua reported. The baby was named 'Dong Zhensheng' to remember the earthquake. 'Dong' is his family name and 'Zhenzheng' implies that he was born during an earthquake. Picture taken November 27, 2005. [newphoto] Expectant mom Ni Minfang is wheeled into a makeshift medical unit van for delivery, her hushand Dong Anhai holding her hand beside, November 27, 2005. An earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale killed 14 people, injured nearly 400 and destroyed 8,500 homes in Jiangxi province. [newsphoto] The newborn Dong Zhensheng in doctor's arms poses for a photo with parents both with a smile on the face on November 27, 2005. [newsphoto]

An earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale struck in Jiujiang, east China's Jiangxi province on November 26, 2005. 16 people died.

Among the cries and throes afflicted by the sudden shock there also ascends cries for new life amid the happiest throes on earth.

The would-be-mother Ni Ruifang awaits for her baby coming in a van-turned makeshift dilivery room at Jiujiang County Hospitalon November 27, merely a day after the deadly tremor.

The father-to-be Dong Anhai consults reporters outside about the name of his coming baby.

"Zhensheng (born amid earthquake in Chinese)" is favored by the family in case of a boy born. For a girl, it might be "Zhenhua (a flower born in an earthquake)."

Hot discussions on the baby's name suspends as the back door of the van opens.

"It's a boy!" heralds Wang Jiayu, the baby's granny, who is at her daughter's side during the delivery.

All at the scene burst into laughter cheering the newborn Dong Zhensheng.

The father distributes candies and cigarettes to all witnessing the coming of his son. It's a traditional Chinese custom to give away small gifts to acquaintances as a new baby is born.