The Ministry of Education has ordered boarding schools across the country to conduct safety checks against carbon monoxide poisoning, after the death of 11 schoolgirls.

Twelve students were poisoned on Monday night when they used a charcoal furnace to warm their dormitory room at the Duiziliang School in Yulin City, Shaanxi Province.

The girls, all about 10 years old, were found sick at about 7 a.m. on Tuesday and rushed to hospitals, but 11 died.

The survivor was in stable condition at the Dingbian County Hospital as of Tuesday evening.

The Education Ministry ordered local authorities to start safety checks immediately in all boarding schools, especially in rural areas, against carbon monoxide poisoning and fire risks.

Night watches in student dormitories must be strengthened, it said.

It told schools still using coal furnaces to install carbon monoxide alarms as soon as possible or replace the furnaces with central heating systems.

School authorities must also strengthen education of the prevention of carbon monoxide poisoning for the students, it said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 3, 2008)