China Quake Killed More than 10,000 Schoolchildren (quake update 8)

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China Quake Killed More than 10,000 Schoolchildren (quake update 8)

Collapsed school in Sichuan Province, China

Photo: UN/Evan Schneider

The earthquake that hit Sichuan province May 12 disproportionately leveled schools like this middle school in Ying Xiu. More than 10,000 children died in China's quake.

PARENTS PROTEST: As recovery from the earthquake in Sichuan province enters its fourth week, grief is mixed with anger. More than 10,000 children died when their schools collapsed. Since China enforces a one-child-per-couple policy, the quake left many families childless.

by Laura Major
Informify Staff Writer
June 4, 2008

While parents searched for their children in the rubble, it was not lost on them that buildings surrounding the schools remained standing. They believe the government permitted inferior construction on schools—but not on businesses.

Sichuan Earthquake: Quick Facts

Quake Hit:		May 12, 2008
Magnitude:		7.9 (USGS)
# Confirmed Dead:		69,019 including 10,000 children
# Still Missing:		18,627
# Injured:		373,573
# Affected:		45.6 million
# Evacuated:		15 million
# Left Homeless:		5.2 million
# Quak Lakes Threaten:		1 million
# Evacuated From Quake Lake Areas:		200,000

Parents Demand Accountability for Shoddy School Construction

Angry parents confronted officials in several cities in Sichuan province, evoking mixed responses:

Police surrounded protesters in Dujiangyan, telling them to disperse, dragging away crying mothers and harassing journalists.
Chinese officials told news organizations not to report on the protests.
The State Council in Beijing said it would punish the responsible construction companies and inspectors.

Quake Rescue Efforts Continue

Quake Lake Ready to Drain: Soldiers who were digging the channel to drain Tangjiashan Lake finally finished and plan to start diverting water June 5. The lake formed when a landslide blocked a river-making an extremely unstable earth dam that could rupture. If it does, it could flood areas where more than 1 million people live.

Helicopter Crashes on Rescue Mission: On Saturday night, a Chinese military helicopter carrying five crew and 14 injured earthquake victims crashed in foggy turbulent weather. During the last 70 hours, 10,000 soldiers have been searching for the Mi-171 chopper. The military and medical crew was on its 64th mission helping in the rescue effort.

China Guarantees No Epidemics: There is always the possibility of health epidemics following large-scale disasters. Decomposing bodies and unhygienic conditions encourage disease. But the Chinese Health Ministry said bodies that haven't been recovered are buried too deep and too far from water sources to contaminate them. Workers are spraying rubble and camps with disinfectant and warning people about health hazards.

Original Story

Earthquake in China Kills Nearly 70,000 (update 7)

Question for Readers:

Do you think the earthquake will keep foreigners away from the Olympics?

Chinese officials began talking about reconstruction after the earthquake and how much it will cost.

Reconstruction accomplished so far:

restored road service to 97% of towns affected
restored electric service to 46 towns and provinces; 50 towns still without electricity
carried 3.5 million tons of supplies via vehicles excused from paying $16.5 million in tolls

Estimated damage cost and aid:

direct damage of $28.8 billion (indirect damage much higher)
government allocated $10.1 billion to reconstruction
foreign countries sent aid and money valued at $6.02 million

Even as China reels from the May 12 earthquake, it continues to prepare for the 29th Olympic Games beginning August 8 in Beijing. The government just released a rules handbook for the expected 500,000 foreign attendees.

Attendees must not:	Attendees must:
wave insulting banners	register with police on arrival
attack referees or players	carry relevant documents
smoke or light fireworks in competition areas	obey the laws of China
sleep outdoors	stay within allowed districts