Thirty-eight people, including 36 pupils, were confirmed dead and seven others were missing after a mountain torrent hit a primary school around 2 PM Friday in Shalan Town in Ning'an City of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

 

The other two dead were local villagers and rescuers were searching for the seven missing, including five students, according to local rescue headquarters.

 

Another 13 pupils were under an emergency treatment, said the headquarters.

 

Altogether 352 pupils, aged from 6 to 14, and 31 teachers were at the Chang'an (or Long Safety) Primary School when the rain-triggered mountain torrents suddenly rushed into the town of Shalan, which lies in a basin, according to the local government.

 

Major provincial government leaders, including Song Fatang, secretary of the Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, have arrived at the site to direct the rescue operation.

 

Xinhua reporters were at the site, which is about 450 kilometers away from Harbin, the provincial capital.

 

It is reported that 64 people were killed in the mountain torrent in Heilongjiang Province.

 

 

 

((Xinhua News Agency June 11, 2005)