Frog march sparks new China quake alarm: Report

Residents of Zunyi, a southern city that saw little damage in China8217;s massive earthquake last week, noticed the amphibians8217; march on Monday, Xinhua said, quoting Vice Mayor Zeng Yongtao.

Thousands of residents camped out in fear overnight in downtown Zunyi, the news agency said. 8220;We don8217;t know what else we can do,8221; Zunyi resident Liu Yong was quoted as saying.

Their decision to move outdoors coincided with a warning from seismological authorities that there may be another big aftershock in southwestern China8217;s Sichuan province on Monday following last week8217;s massive tremor.

The May 12 earthquake, which left more than 71,000 people dead, missing or buried in rubble, also came after reports of unusual movement of toads.

Internet blogs showed footage of toads covering the streets of Mianyang in the days before the town in Sichuan province was ravaged by the earthquake.

Many people, at least in retrospect, took the toads as an omen of disaster. Others, however, said that the toads had come to welcome the Beijing Olympic flame.

Local forestry officials had said the toads8217; movement was simply because it was mating season, although their explanations were attacked on China8217;s lively Internet discussion boards.