Government and Policy

Govt orders safety checks after fatal wall collapse

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-10-13 19:55

GUIYANG -- The local government in Qianxinan prefecture in Southwest China's Guizhou province ordered safety checks at schools Wednesday after a fatal wall collapse at a school Tuesday.

A wall at Longshan Middle School in Anlong County collapsed at 3:40?pm Tuesday, killing five and injuring nine more. The victims were resting by the wall during a physical education class when it toppled over.

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The dead include four students and one teacher. Nine others - five students, three teachers and one preschooler - were injured. The students were from the same eighth-grade class.

The wounded are still in hospital. Two were seriously injured but are in stable conditions now.

The wall -- 30 meters long and 2.5 meters high -- was made of cement and bricks.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the accident.

The prefectural government issued a notice Wednesday ordering schools in the prefecture to check school buildings and other facilities for safety hazards that may threaten students' lives.