In Qiqihar City, Heilongjiang Province, northeast China, a school gymnasium’s roof fell on Sunday, leaving nine people confirmed dead and two more still trapped inside.
At 2:56 PM, the roof collapse was reported. Sunday, based on the regional fire and rescue service.
At the time of the incident, 19 individuals were present in the gymnasium, which has an area of around 1,200 square meters, at Middle School No. 34 in Longsha District.
Fifteen people were imprisoned, and four managed to escape on their own, according to the local search and rescue center.
Until three in the morning on Monday, 13 people had been saved; three of them had been removed without vital signs, and six had passed away following unsuccessful medical intervention.
Rescue operations are still being conducted. According to a preliminary inquiry, when building a teaching building next to the gymnasium, construction workers illegally installed perlite on the top of the building. Rain caused the perlite to soak up water and gain weight, which caused the perlite to become too heavy and cause the roof to collapse.
Authorities in the area claim that the gym’s walls are grid-like and have a concrete slab roof.
An extensive inquiry is still being conducted. The owners of the construction firm have been detained by authorities.
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