The Chinese government launched a nationwide election teen heroes who acted bravely after a massive earthquake hit southwest China's Sichuan Province on May 12.

The office in charge of promoting socialist ethics, together with the Ministry of Education and the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Youth League, is to organize the large-scale election for young citizens who are under 18 years of age and showed brave deeds in quake rescue and relief efforts. Candidates are limited to those from Sichuan, Gansu, Shaanxi and Chongqing, where were the most severely hit by the quake.

National and local media reported many brave children who help rescue their classmates and other people in need after the 8.0-magnitude tremor, which claimed at least 69,130 lives, left another 17,824 missing, injured 374,031 people and made millions homeless.

A 12-year-old boy named Chen Hao was seriously injured after successfully helping his classmates.

By June 11, people are encouraged to nominate eligible candidates to the national selection committee, via either email at shaonianwmb@163.com or telephone at 86-10-63095186. The national selection committee will select final candidates from all recommendations and publicize finalists for public voting.

(Xinhua News Agency June 7, 2008)