The six-storey building in Changsha City partially collapsed on Friday with 23 people inside, state-run CCTV television reported. Rescuers in central China have since pulled five people from the rubble, authorities said on Saturday. However, they added that another 39 who were present around the site of the building when it overturned remain inaccessible and rescue operations are still ongoing. President Xi Jinping gave further instructions to rescue more victims “at all costs”. Authorities told a news conference that the five survivors were in stable condition in hospital. Preliminary investigations revealed that the building housed a restaurant, cafeteria, hotel and several apartments, CCTV reported. Residents had made structural changes to the facility and the exact causes of the collapse are still being investigated, the report added. Following the increase in the number of self-constructed buildings collapsing in recent years, Mr. Xi also said that it was necessary to inspect such structures to investigate any hidden hazards and correct them in a timely manner to avoid major accidents. at the Xinhua State News Agency. The photos showed the front of the building largely intact, while the back seemed to have collapsed. Lack of compliance with safety standards, including the illegal addition of additional floors and the non-use of reinforcing iron bars, is often blamed for such disasters.
