Qinghai Province will hold mourning ceremonies Wednesday for more than 2,000 victims killed in a strong earthquake last week, the local government said Tuesday.

National flags will fly at half-mast in Qinghai and local people will pay a three-minute silent tribute starting at about 10:00 AM Wednesday to those killed in the disaster, according to a circular released by the provincial government of Qinghai Tuesday.

Mourning ceremonies will be held in Gyegu Town of Yushu, the epicenter, and some other locations including Xining, the provincial capital. Public entertainment would also be suspended on Wednesday.

The State Council, China's cabinet, announced a national day of mourning would be held on Wednesday for the quake victims.

The 7.1-magnitude quake, which struck the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu on April 14, had so far killed 2,046 people, with 193 others still missing, the rescue headquarters said.

The devastating quake has also left 12,135 injured, of whom 1,434 are in serious condition.

(Xinhua News Agency April 20, 2010)