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Haiti school collapse kills dozens

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-08 14:14

HAVANA -- A church-operated school in Haiti called "The Evangelic Promise" collapsed on Friday during the class time, killing about 50 people.

A church-operated school in Haiti called "The Evangelic Promise" collapse on Friday during the class time. [Agencies]

According to news reaching here from Port-au-Prince, capital of Haiti, an unknown number of students, teachers and other people were still trapped under the debris, while the death toll could rise.

The collapse occurred at 10 a.m. local time (1400 GMT) in Petion Ville near the capital, and authorities have not unveiled the causes of the collapse of the three-floor building.

Local police and firemen, as well as officials of the United Nations peacekeeping forces were trying to rescue the victims.

Rescuers try to save the injured in a collapsed church-operated school in Haiti Friday. The school collapsed during the class time. [Agencies]

Many parents were crying while they were looking for their children.

Police commissioner Carl Henry Boucher said that at least 25 people were taken to a hospital.

The school had some 700 elementary and secondary students.

Haitian Education Minister Joel Jean Pierre called the collapse a "national catastrophe."

Some 800 people have died from hurricanes and storms this year in Haiti.

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