China deals with children orphaned by quake

CHENGDU, China (Reuters) - Chinese authorities already struggling to deal with the aftermath of Monday's massive earthquake are now trying to cope with a flood of children orphaned by the disaster.

Over the weekend more than 140 Chinese teenagers with missing parents were moved to a university campus in the Sichuan provincial capital of Chengdu.

Experts and social workers warn that much more needs to be done to repair the deep psychological damage that they and other survivors have suffered, in an earthquake whose death toll is already approaching 30,000, and is likely to climb further.

"The students have been given the food, clothes and shelter that they need since they arrived last night. And they are now starting to think about their families. They are crying at night as they can't find their parents," said their teacher Zhang Ping.

"I think we have a big problem on our hands."

Between the ages of 13 to 15, the students are from Yingxiu town, which was badly battered when the 7.9 quake rocked the southwestern province of Sichuan on Monday.

Many schools collapsed. Witnesses say they simply sank into the ground.

"The primary schools were completely flattened. My little sister is buried inside," said Luo Xiaofung, 15. "I don't think she could have survived."

"We all quickly went under our tables as our teachers told us we are considered very lucky," said Luo. Except for about 30 students and five teachers, everyone in her 1,600-strong school survived, teachers said.