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Thirteen people died and dozens were rescued alive after a two-story restaurant collapsed on diners and staff.
Four people were taken to hospital with serious injuries after the building in Linfen, China, collapsed on Saturday morning.
More than 700 people are involved in a desperate rescue operation amid fears that more victims are still trapped in the rubble, according to Chinese state media.
Almost 50 people, including the dead, have already been rescued or recovered from the site.
Heartbreaking footage from the scene shows teams of rescuers, wearing orange helmets and suits, and soldiers in military uniforms using their hands as they try to lift heavy chunks of debris as they search for survivors.
Crews risked their own lives to find those trapped below at the site in northern China.
In one clip, there are more collapses as crews move the debris. A decorative painting is seen on one of the few walls that still remain intact after the ceiling has fallen.
The death toll initially stood at five before increasing.
The cause of the collapse, which occurred just before 10 a.m. local time, is under investigation.
State broadcaster CGTN said the building in Xiangfen county was used for large banquets.
He also said that more than 700 people participated in the rescue operation.
A report by the Global Times, another state media outlet, said: “13 people were killed and 4 people seriously injured in a restaurant collapse accident on Saturday morning in Linfen, North China’s Shanxi Province.
“43 people have been rescued.”
Building collapses in China are not uncommon.
Many previous collapses have been attributed to builders taking shortcuts or ignoring safety rules.
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