Kids die in blast near school

2005-03-03 09:44

Beijing - Up to 20 people, including children, were feared dead when explosives stored in the home of a mine operator blew up near a school in northern China, local officials and state press reported on Thursday.

The blast occurred in Huogou village, Shanxi province, on Wednesday afternoon, badly damaging the nearby Beixinzhuang elementary school where children were attending classes, the Beijing News reported.

It said at least 20 children were killed, although officials and local journalists said the death toll was not as high.

A Kecheng township official, who did not want to be named, confirmed the blast but said the toll was "in the teens", indicating it was somewhere between 10 and 20.

"We are trying to find out more information," he said.

A journalist from the local Shanxi Metropolitan Daily said police had cordoned off the area and were refusing to allow reporters near the school.

Confusion about death toll

She said at least 10 people were killed, but only two were students.

"It was a very small school, with only 17 to 18 students. Only a few students died. Nine students were injured," she said.

"The explosion killed many people in the homes around the blast," she added.

The explosives were being stored in the home of local mine operator, Lu Maolin, who died in the blast. Lu's wife was also injured, the Beijing News said.

A person answering the phone at the Kecheng township hospital, said "three or four" people injured in the blast were being treated at the hospital.

Shanxi province is China's largest coal mining region, and mining accidents occur regularly.

A businessman in Kecheng, who is also a communist party member, said he feared the local government could try and cover up the incident.

"The provincial, city and county officials are arriving so they have to take it seriously," he said, refusing to be named.

"Since this happened at a school, during the daytime, they can't cover it up as usual."

China has experienced a wave of deadly attacks, including stabbings and bombings, at schools in recent months, culminating in the shutting down of 10 000 kindergartens and 2 000 schools.

In addition, about 27 000 staff have been sacked in a nationwide campaign to increase safety. - AFP

- SAPA