The official death toll from the highspeed rail collision near the east-central city of Wenzhou on July 23rd now stands at 40, withi9i injured. Among the tens of millions in China who now share their thoughts on the nation's microblogging outlets are many who suspect the toll is even higher. Whatever the true numbers, other casualties may be counted in the disaster and the nature of its clumsy handling afterwards. One of these is the credibility of the government.Days after the crash, many continue to gripe openly about the government's response, and to doubt anything officials say. Complaints focus not only on whatever neglect caused the accident-officials say it was a signalling flaw-but also on the government's callousness in trying to clean up the site. It buried one of the stricken rail carriages and restored rail services, all before rescue operations had ended.
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