May 12, 2008 CHENGDU, China -- A strong earthquake hits China and killed nearly 19,000 people in Sichuan provinces on Monday. About 900 students were trapped under the rubble of their school and caused a toxic chemical leak, state media reported. The quake hit about 60 miles northwest of Chengdu, a city of about 3.75 million in the middle of the afternoon when classrooms and office towers were full. When it hit shortly before 2:30 p.m., the quake rumbled for nearly three minutes driving people into the streets in panic. The 7.9-magnitude earthquake devastated a hilly region of small cities and towns in central China. 200 others were killed in three other provinces and the mega-city of Chongqing. News report that 80 percent of the buildings had collapsed in Sichuan province's Beichuan county after the quake, raising fears that the overall death toll could increase sharply. State media said a chemical plant in Shifang city had cratered, burying hundreds of people and spilling more...