The bodies of the youngsters were brought out of the wreckage on doors scavenged from what remained of their school building in China.

The death toll from a powerful earthquake in central China has climbed to nearly 10,000 in the worst-hit province, state news reports said today.

TENS of thousands of people were feared dead last night in a huge earthquake that shattered central China.

A powerful earthquake toppled buildings, schools and a chemical plant in China today, killing more than 8,700 people and trapping untold numbers in mounds of concrete, steel and earth.

Tens of thousands of people were feared dead tonight in a huge earthquake that shattered central China.

Thousands of troops were called in to central China after a massive earthquake rocked the region today bringing fears of a huge death toll.