Ten years after the Sichuan earthquake, parents who lost their children still await justice

On the afternoon of May 12, 2008, a magnitude 8 earthquake hit Sichuan province in southwest China. Powerful tremors erupted from the epicentre in Wenchuan county. Entire towns and villages were destroyed.

Over 87,000 people were killed. The government says 5,335 were children, although independent estimates put the number at up to 10,000.

Many children were at school when the earthquake hit, and were buried when buildings collapsed. A decade later, their parents still demand that the government finds out why so many schools fell – and so many students lost their lives.

(Photo: Simon Song)