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China to probe high number of school collapses

At least 130,000 troops search for survivors as China launches a probe into the high number of school collapses.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 09:26 May 16, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Rescuers transport injured from the quake-stricken Yingxiu town of Wenchuan county to Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan province.
  • Image Credit: AP
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Beijing: A rescue force of 130,000 troops searched for survivors on Friday as China launched a probe into the high number of school collapses in Monday's killer earthquake.

The 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck in China's southwest Sichuan province while schools were open; burying thousands of children. Authorities fear the death toll could exceed 50,000.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development ordered an investigation into why 6,898 school buildings collapsed while their surrounding buildings remained intact.

The issue has fuelled anger from parents who have accused authorities of cutting costs and failing to meet safety standards.

"If quality problems do exist in the school buildings, we will deal with the persons responsible strictly with no toleration and give the public a satisfying answer," Xinhua news agency quoted Han Jin, head of the development and planning department of the Ministry of Education, as saying.

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