Demand for bus safety after Gansu crash

The Ministry of Education has ordered a nationwide inspection of school buses for kindergarteners and primary school students after a minibus crash in Gansu province left 19 children dead and more in critical condition.

A nine-seater school bus carrying 62 kindergarten students aged between four and six collided with a truck at around 9am on Wednesday. Two adults - a teacher and the bus driver - died in the road incident, which prompted the suspension of local officials.

A critically injured five-year old died last night, bringing the total death toll to 21, China News Service reported. The child, suffered from liver rupture and haemorrhagic shock, was already relying completely on a breathing apparatus to stay alive since midnight, state radio's news portal reported, citing hospital authorities.

Thirteen victims were being treated at the Zhengning County People's Hospital.

The father of another victim said his child had a broken arm and suffered a concussion. The 40-year-old man said the kindergarten, called Xiaoboshi, was the only one in the town of Yulinzi.

'We had no choice but to send them to the kindergarten, although we parents were worried about their safety,' said the man, who identified himself as Lao Wu.

The Ministry of Education yesterday also ordered local authorities to inspect all school vehicles and government permits for renting transportation for students after Wednesday's accident sparked outrage over lax rules on bus overloading.