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| Chinese reveal child quake toll | Chinese reveal child quake toll |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| China says 5,335 schoolchildren died or remain missing after last year's devastating Sichuan earthquake. | China says 5,335 schoolchildren died or remain missing after last year's devastating Sichuan earthquake. |
| It is the first time that Chinese authorities have given an official estimate for the number of children lost in the disaster. | It is the first time that Chinese authorities have given an official estimate for the number of children lost in the disaster. |
| The official number is far lower than other independent estimates, says the BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Beijing. | The official number is far lower than other independent estimates, says the BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Beijing. |
| The issue is sensitive because of accusations that many schools were poorly constructed. | The issue is sensitive because of accusations that many schools were poorly constructed. |
| When the earthquake struck, a disproportionate number of school buildings collapsed, our correspondent says. | When the earthquake struck, a disproportionate number of school buildings collapsed, our correspondent says. |
| Chinese officials made the announcement days before the 12 May anniversary of the disaster that killed up to 90,000 people. | Chinese officials made the announcement days before the 12 May anniversary of the disaster that killed up to 90,000 people. |
| Tu Wentao, head of the Sichuan education department, said the delay in releasing the figures was because they had to be compiled from various government agencies. | Tu Wentao, head of the Sichuan education department, said the delay in releasing the figures was because they had to be compiled from various government agencies. |
| "These numbers were reached through legal methods. We have wide agreement on these numbers," he told a press conference in the provincial capital Chengdu. | "These numbers were reached through legal methods. We have wide agreement on these numbers," he told a press conference in the provincial capital Chengdu. |
| News reports at the time of the disaster said 9,000 children and teachers died, while independent surveys put the figure closer to 7,000. | |
| Hundreds disabled | Hundreds disabled |
| Liu Xiaoying, whose 12-year-old daughter was killed, says she believes the death toll is much higher than the 5,335 figure given by officials. | Liu Xiaoying, whose 12-year-old daughter was killed, says she believes the death toll is much higher than the 5,335 figure given by officials. |
| Sichuan authorities say the quake also left another 546 students disabled. | Sichuan authorities say the quake also left another 546 students disabled. |
| The figures do not include casualties from surrounding provinces. | The figures do not include casualties from surrounding provinces. |
| The government has admitted that nearly 14,000 schools were damaged or collapsed in the magnitude-8 earthquake. | The government has admitted that nearly 14,000 schools were damaged or collapsed in the magnitude-8 earthquake. |
| Parents have blamed local corruption and official neglect for the collapse of so many schools and for the loss of their children. | Parents have blamed local corruption and official neglect for the collapse of so many schools and for the loss of their children. |
| Many say that when they have complained they have been harassed or detained. | Many say that when they have complained they have been harassed or detained. |
| Liu Xiaoying has twice been to Beijing to petition the government. | Liu Xiaoying has twice been to Beijing to petition the government. |
| "I hope the investigation will continue and that the people responsible will be seriously punished," she said. | "I hope the investigation will continue and that the people responsible will be seriously punished," she said. |
| "I hope the government will really do what they say they and not brush off us parents." | "I hope the government will really do what they say they and not brush off us parents." |
| Correspondents say parents have been stopped from going back to the schools on sensitive occasions, and the authorities are believed to be monitoring parents leading up to the anniversary of the disaster. | Correspondents say parents have been stopped from going back to the schools on sensitive occasions, and the authorities are believed to be monitoring parents leading up to the anniversary of the disaster. |
| Human Rights Watch has called on Beijing to be more open about the quake, compensate victims' relatives and allow parents to file lawsuits. | Human Rights Watch has called on Beijing to be more open about the quake, compensate victims' relatives and allow parents to file lawsuits. |
| "Parents of student quake victims, who are trying to understand how and why their children died, deserve answers and compassion, not threats and abuse," Sophie Richardson, the group's Asia advocacy director, said in a statement. | "Parents of student quake victims, who are trying to understand how and why their children died, deserve answers and compassion, not threats and abuse," Sophie Richardson, the group's Asia advocacy director, said in a statement. |