State media says 8 Chinese peacekeepers killed, 10 missing in Haiti earthquake

State media: 8 Chinese peacekeepers die in Haiti

BEIJING — An official Chinese newspaper says eight Chinese peacekeepers were killed in the earthquake that struck Haiti and that 10 others are missing.

The China Daily newspaper reported online Wednesday that the dead were buried under the rubble. The report cited Liu Xiangyang, the vice president of the China National Earthquake Disaster Emergency Rescue Team.

But an official with the peacekeeping department of the Public Security Ministry said he had not yet received information on the well-being of forces in the Caribbean country. The official would not give his name.

The Chinese rescue team says there are 125 peacekeepers from the country in Haiti.

The earthquake was the most powerful to hit Haiti in more than 200 years.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

BEIJING (AP) — An official Chinese newspaper says eight Chinese peacekeepers were killed in the earthquake that struck Haiti and that 10 others were missing.

The China Daily newspaper reported online Wednesday that the figures on the Chinese casualties came from Liu Xiangyang, the vice president of the China National Earthquake Disaster Emergency Rescue Team.

The organization says there are 125 Chinese in Haiti as part of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti. The U.N.’s Web site says they are all policemen. The countries do not have diplomatic relations.

It was the most powerful earthquake to hit Haiti in more than 200 years, and the U.N.’s five-story headquarters was one of many buildings it destroyed.