8 missing students confirmed killed in Xiamen fire on bus

Students who missed part of exam may go to college, authorities say

Eight missing students were confirmed killed in the bus fire on Friday in Southeast China, and seven injured students will still get a chance to get into college after missing part of the national entrance exam because of the fire.

People mourn for victims in the bus fire that killed 47 people on Friday in Xiamen, Fujian province. [Photo/Xinhua]

The 15 students on the bus had taken the first part of the college entrance exam early on Friday at a school in the Jimei district of Xiamen, Fujian province, and were returning, Guo Xianwen, deputy director of Xiamen Education Bureau, said on Monday.

They all were students at Xiamen occupational high schools, according to China Central Television report.

Authorities confirmed that eight were confirmed dead after DNA identification was completed on Monday afternoon. The seven injured students are receiving treatment in hospitals, the Xiamen Education Bureau said.

Forty-seven people died in the fire on the bus and 34 were injured - 15 of them are in critical condition, according to the Xiamen health authority.

Coming on the first day of the three-day annual college entrance exam, the fire drew massive attention nationwide.

Xiamen education authorities said the seven students who were injured in the accident and missed part of the exam will be allowed to go to college based on the first day of their exam scores and day-to-day school performance.

The 34 people injured received treatment at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University and the 174th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army.

One person was discharged from the hospital on Sunday, and another was expected to be released on Monday afternoon, the local health department said.

Xiamen police have said that the fire was intentionally set by Chen Shuizong, 59, of Xiamen. Chen also died in the blaze.

Police say they found notes in his house that indicated he was unhappy and pessimistic about life and planned to commit the arson to vent his grievances.

However, they said they will not release details of the notes.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

Arson evidence released

The information office of the Xiamen municipal government released evidence connected with the arsonist on Monday. The office said an investigation launched by experts of the Ministry of Public Security and the provincial Public Security Department found that Chen Shuizong, a native of Xiamen, carried gasoline onto the bus on Friday. Wreckage of a hand trolley and woven bag were found at the scene, and gasoline was confirmed to be the accelerant. An investigation showed Chen bought the petrol on Wednesday and left his home with a hand trolley carrying a woven bag.

Xinhua