Thursday, November 20, 2008 - 03:40
AFP News Briefs List1 dead, 26 wounded in Haiti school panic
A noisy rumble sparked panic at a school outside the Haitian capital Wednesday, killing one student and wounding dozens as jitters remained nearly two weeks after a deadly school collapse, authorities said.
"The accident occurred when a trailer passing by caused a panic. Schoolchildren then rushed towards the exit," civil protection director Alta Jean-Baptiste told the AFP.
One schoolgirl died and 26 people were wounded, officials said.
Witnesses told radio stations in Port-au-Prince that dozens of schoolchildren jumped from the upper floors of the building, fearing the school might collapse.
Ninety-one people were killed and 162 were wounded when a school collapsed on November 7 in Haiti. Another school collapse wounded nine people several days later.
On Tuesday, the Haitian government announced it had made a group of psychologists available to help school children affected by these recent events. School inspections by the authorities are also underway.
Images
View of College Promesse Evangelique in Petion-ville, which collapsed on November 7 killing 91 people. A noisy rumble sparked panic at a school outside the Haitian capital Wednesday, killing one student and wounding dozens as jitters remained nearly two weeks after a deadly school collapse, authorities said.
© 2007 AFP Thony Belizaire
