China crocs "escaped twice" before child tragedy

BEIJING, May 16 (Reuters) Crocodiles escaped twice from a Chinese resort before a nine-year-old boy was eaten alive in April, media reported today, adding that 16 government officials had been sacked for negligence.

The boy was dragged into the water by a crocodile after he and three school friends climbed into the enclosure and taunted the animals with sticks and catapults at the resort in the southwestern region of Guangxi.

The enclosure had been ordered closed by local authorities after crocodiles escaped twice in 2005, the Beijing News said.

''The weak execution of law and inadequate management led to the tragedy,'' state television said.

In February, a tiger attacked a six-year-old girl waiting to have her picture taken with the animal at a zoo in southwest China, biting her head and killing her.

REUTERS KN HS1106