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BEIJING: At least 13 people were killed on Saturday when a restaurant in northern China collapsed, state media said, and rescuers pulled dozens of survivors from the rubble and searched for others believed to be trapped.
The two-story banquet building collapsed in the morning in Xiangfen county, Shanxi province, according to broadcaster CGTN.
“So far, they have removed 43 people, including the dead and four seriously injured,” the report says.
Images on the CGTN website showed rescuers in orange overalls and helmets combing through the ruined ruins of the building, with a decorative painting visible on one of the few walls still intact.
CGTN said 700 people participated in the rescue operation.
While the cause of the disaster was not immediately clear, China is no stranger to building collapses and fatal construction accidents.
They are generally credited with the country’s rapid growth leading to builders taking corners and widespread non-compliance with safety rules.
