PORT-AU-PRINCE (AFP) — 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.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
