700 people were involved in the rescue operation, according to the report. (Representative)
Beijing:
At least five people died in a restaurant collapse in northern China on Saturday, state media said, rescuers pulling dozens of survivors from the rubble and looking for others who are believed to be trapped.
The two-story building used for banquets came down in the morning in Xiangfen County, Shanxi Province, according to broadcaster CGTN.
“About 37 people were buried after the accident. So far, 33 have been removed. Among them, five people have been confirmed dead, including one seriously injured,” the report said.
Images on the CGTN website showed rescuers in orange overalls and hard hats painting the crumbling ruin of the building, with decorative painting visible on one of the few walls still intact.
CGTN said 700 people were involved 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 blamed on the rapid growth of the country which leads to corner cuts by manufacturers and widespread non-compliance with safety regulations.
(Except for the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is posted from a syndicated feed.)
