In September , officials estimated death toll at 69,227 , with more than 400 missing . The first official tally of students killed in the Sichuan province quake was released Thursday by Tu Wentao , the head of the province 's education department , the Xinhua news agency said . The tremor started May 12 at about 2:30 p.m. , when many children were in school . People in Japan contacted relatives of those who died in quake .
In September , officials estimated death toll at 69,227 , with more than 400 missing . The tremor started May 12 at about 2:30 p.m. , when many children were in school . People in Japan contacted relatives of those who died in quake .