Over 110 schoolchildren die or go missing in tsunami after being picked up by parents (JAPAN)

At least 115 children from 33 schools died or went missing after being picked up by their parents or guardians shortly before the March 11 tsunami, the Mainichi has learned.

The children were among 351 from 91 elementary schools, junior high schools and special schools who died or were left missing in the wake of the disaster. All children who stayed at the 33 schools following the magnitude 9.0 quake that triggered the tsunami remained safe as they evacuated to top floors or higher ground.

Apart from the need to improve preventative measures, schools should urgently review the ways in which children are picked up by their parents or guardians in times of emergencies.

According to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, a panel of experts on disaster prevention at schools reported in 1996 that schools should have specific discussions on ways of returning children to their parents or guardians. It has become a common practice for schools, especially elementary schools, to return children to their parents when disasters strike.

More...
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/news/20110812p2a00m0na013000c.html

I guess the numbers have come in, this is incredibly sad.