Internet surfers have expressed their deepest concern and support for victims of Monday's deadly earthquake.

They also praised Premier Wen Jiabao, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and others helping in rescue efforts.

People surfing the websites of Xinhuanet, sina.com, sohu.com and tianya.cn said they were praying for the safety of those in Wenchuan county.

"Please be brave and confident," a netizen named wushuowei wrote on the BBS of tianya.cn.

Another on xinhuanet called on all Chinese in the world to "help the unfortunate to rebuild their homes".

Another named wangwei wrote on sina.com: "We trust in the government and the people, and we believe in Premier Wen Jiabao."

The Chinese Red Cross Foundation, the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, together with sina.com, ifeng.com, www.hnce.com.cn (the economic news website of Hunan province) and many others have started online donations.

Following the online posting of hotline numbers and special bank accounts for emergency relief, many individuals and companies have come forward with donations.

Less than an hour after the quake, Premier Wen was on his way to the stricken areas despite the danger of aftershocks.

The PLA and police forces from various provinces were also at the scene of the most dangerous and difficult locations in a matter of hours.

Wen ordered the PLA to overcome all difficulties to reach the worst-affected areas.

"As long as we can reach those areas one second earlier, we can save one more life," Wen said.

Dou Hanzhang, a blogger of Xinhuanet, wrote: "All the efforts in the past 10 hours indicate that the more difficulties we encounter, the more the resolve of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to overcome these difficulties.

"The superiority of socialism to mobilize the whole society to serve the people will be shown, and the more united and stronger will be the Chinese nation."

Before the specially trained PLA set off to the disaster-hit areas, Wen said: "I have only one sentence for you: It is the people that foster you, see to it that you serve them."

A surfer named mushimengkiki on Tianya.cn said he was moved to tears.

"I watched him (Wen) on TV climbing into collapsed buildings, trying to comfort the victims and give them confidence. I was deeply moved. He is truly a great leader."

(China Daily May 14, 2008)