Eleven people have tragically died after the roof of a school gym collapsed in China.
According to state media, the gym at the No 34 Middle School in Qiqihar, Heilongjiang Province collapsed at around 3pm local time yesterday.
“A total of 11 people died in the accident,” state broadcaster CCTV said, also adding that there in now an investigation ongoing into the incident.
19 people were said to be in the gym at the time, according to local newspaper Heilongjiang Daily and four escaped while four others were pulled from the rubble.
Footage of the incident aired by CCTV showed the roof collapsing onto the gym before rescue worked searched through the debris.
The search and rescue involved nearly 160 firefighters and 39 fire truck and it has now come to an end.
State media Xinhua said an initial investigation into the collapse accused construction workers of placing a form of volcanic glass called perlite on the roof.
Due to heavy rain, the perlite expanded and caused the roof to collapse.
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