China landslide kills 18 school kids

Dribble NZ News/ TVNZ

18 primary school children have been recovered following what residents called a 'massive landslide' in south-west China.

The landslide which struck the small village in the Yunan province, forcing more then 800 people to evacuate from their homes.

Police in China have defended returning them to school to make up for lose lessons after disruptions from a serius of earthquakes that occured last month which killed more then dozens of people.

The country is at the momment on a week-long hoiladay to celebrate the October 1 National Day.

The landslide hit Zhenhe village,located in a deep mountain valley. 

School safety has been a sensitive issue in China since a magnitude 8.0 earthquake hit neighbouring Sichuan province in 2008, killing tens of thousands of people.

A number of schools collapsed in that earthquake, triggering accusations of shoddy construction.