Ten children have been confirmed dead and 34
injured in a crush at a primary school in southwest China's Sichuan
Province on Tuesday evening.
The accident took place at Guangna Town Central
Primary School in Tongjiang County at 8 PM as students left
classrooms after an evening lesson. The corridors were thrown into
darkness after the lights went out, causing panic amongst the
children, who rushed to a staircase.
Seven children were killed as students fell and
were trampled underfoot. Five were reported to be in a critical
condition and another 37 injured, but the death toll had risen to
ten by 11:30 PM.
According to a deputy head of the county, Zhao, the
children still in a critical condition had been traumatized by the
event.
(Xinhua News Agency October 26, 2005)