Family compensated after gas poisoning kills 11 girls in NW China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-04 17:02

DINGBIAN - Families of the 11 female students who died from Tuesday's carbon monoxide poisoning at a middle school in northwestern Shaanxi Province, have been compensated.

Each of the girls' family was compensated 200,000 yuan (US$29,050), according to the publicity office of the Dingbian County, where the school is located.

So far, the bodies of seven girls were cremated and officials were accompanying the parents to help them deal with the aftermath, said an official with the office.

Twelve fourth-grade girls, who studied at the primary education department of the Duiziliang Middle School, were poisoned after using a charcoal heater to warm their dorm room on Monday night and early Tuesday. The oldest of them was only aged 11. Eleven died at the hospital.

Police said they believed a quilt fell on the stove during the night. It caught fire and then ignited coals being stored under one of the girl's beds. As the coals smoldered, the students were poisoned by gases.

The sole survivor, Cai Maomao, who was being treated at the Dingbian County Hospital, was still in a coma, but the 11-year-old girl was recovering well, said doctors.

"I'm so happy to hear she is able to breath without the aid of a machine," said Cai Xingqiang, the girl's father. "Doctors says if she keeps doing well, she can be revive from the coma soon."

Cai has two daughters and one son. Maomao, the second eldest child of the family, was described by the father as "lovely and caring".

"We are not a rich family. Maomao always helps us do a lot of housework and to take care of her younger brother," said Cai, adding local government covered the fees to treat the girl.

Investigation into the accident continues. Zhao Binghong, the former head of the School was dismissed from his post for allegedly being responsible for the incident.

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