11 Chinese schoolgirls die of carbon monoxide poisoning

Beijing: Eleven Chinese schoolgirls have died in their room from carbon monoxide poisoning after making a fire to keep warm, state media said on Tuesday.

Twelve girls were poisoned on Monday night at their school in Dingbian county of Shaanxi province, Xinhua news agency reported. The sole survivor was in serious condition, it added.

Carbon-monoxide poisoning is common in rural areas of northern China in the winter when temperatures can drop well below freezing and people burn coal to keep warm.