Chinese state media CCTV reported a tragic incident in China’s northeastern city of Qiqihar where the roof of a middle school gymnasium collapsed, resulting in the loss of at least eleven lives.

The incident occurred on a Sunday afternoon when nineteen individuals were present in the gymnasium. Among them, four managed to escape, but fifteen were trapped under the debris.

The rescue efforts were initiated by the municipal search and rescue headquarters, tirelessly working to find those trapped.

Unfortunately, one of the trapped individuals was discovered on Monday morning and pronounced deceased, as reported by state media, CNN has reported.

At the time of the collapse, a female volleyball team was undergoing training in the gym, according to the father of one of the team members, as shared with China Youth Daily on Sunday.

Though the ages of all the victims were not specified initially, state media confirmed that at least one of the deceased was a student.

The authorities are actively investigating the incident to determine its cause. A preliminary inquiry suggests that the collapse might have been triggered by misplaced construction material known as perlite, which was left on the gym roof during construction work on a nearby building.

This material absorbed water from rainfall, leading to increased weight and eventual structural failure, as indicated by the preliminary investigation.

Responsibility is being attributed to those in charge of the construction, and they are presently in police custody.

The authorities are continuing their investigations to gain a comprehensive understanding of the circumstances surrounding this devastating incident.

Written by staff