As buildings shook and then finally collapsed, it was the workers and the school children who were in the most danger. The death toll in China keeps climbing.
If a similar earthquake were to happen in British Columbia, it may be local children who could be most at risk.
"There are a large number of schools in British Columbia, I think 250 schools that are at high risk of collapsing if there were a major earthquake,'' said David Cubberly, education critic with B.C.'s New Democratic Party.
At least 700 B.C. schools need seismic upgrades. Of that amount, 95 are regarded as the highest risk, he said.
Three years ago, the provincial government tabled a $1.5 billion dollar plan to seisimically upgrade provincial schools. But to date, only 13 have been completed.
But B.C. Education Minister Shirley Bond defended the government's record. "We've always said clearly it is an ongoing project,'' she said.
The minister is promising rapid progress in the coming months.
At present, she said another 18 schools are being upgraded, 32 will proceed this summer and it's hoped another 35 can receive approval before the end of the year.
"It's complicated but student safety is one of our number one priorities and we're going to continue to move this project forward," she said.
For his part, Cubberly said it's time the government moved forward boldly on this program, in the way that they promised.
"They promised to do 80 schools in 3 years on a fast track and it's been in the slowlane ever since,'' he said.
With a report by CTV British Columbia's Jim Beatty.
