An online public memorial ceremony will be held Sunday afternoon for those who died in the devastating May 12 earthquake.

The ceremony, jointly launched by major websites including www.chinaspirit.net.cn, www.xinhuanet.com and www.sina.com, will be formally launched at 2:28 p.m. at www.china5000.org.cn.

The ceremony will last one day, after which an online museum will come into existence permanently to remember those victims.

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake on May 12, which rocked southwestern Sichuan Province and areas around it, has claimed more than 28,800 lives.

People can lay virtual wreaths for the dead and leave online messages to express sympathy to victim's families and encourage them to come out from the shadow of calamity.

Organizers also called on the participants to suspend recreational activities for one day to show their condolences to the dead.

As of 2 p.m. Saturday, the death toll from the quake had risen to 28,881 nationwide, while 198,347 people were injured. About 50,000 people were estimated dead during the calamity.

(Xinhua News Agency May 18, 2008)