School officials fired after students drown in China

School officials were fired after eight students drowned in a river in southern China on their way back from a funeral.

"The principals should be held responsible as safety education and surveillance of the students are weak at this school," an official surnamed Li with the county's education bureau was quoted as saying.

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A teacher was also under investigation, Xinhua said. The 22 students, 10 boys and 12 girls, attended the funeral of a classmate's grandfather and stopped at the river on their way back.

The boys swam downstream while the girls, holding hands, waded upstream to the middle of the river.

They were swept away by the strong current when they tried to take a new route back to shore.

Two of the girls were rescued.