China's Ministry of Education Thursday urged all schools across the country to strengthen safety measures to protect students, after seven children were killed by lightning.

The lightning, which struck a primary school in a village in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Wednesday afternoon, also injured 44 other students.

"Stronger safety measures should be taken to prevent student casualties caused by natural disasters," said an official with the Ministry of Education.

The ministry has issued a circular requiring schools to improve safety education, as summer, a peak season for drowning accidents, is coming.

The ministry also required local education departments to conduct safety training of school leaders, especially in rural areas.

A report on China's primary and middle school safety released in March showed more than 60 percent of student deaths in 2006 were caused by drowning and traffic accidents.

The official also called on parents to improve safety education of their children. The education departments and schools located in regions with high precipitation should take precautions against natural disasters.

Source: Xinhua