The collapse of a building that houses a restaurant in China on Saturday left at least 17 people dead, with relief efforts continuing their search to try to save possible people still buried, official media said.
A building on two levels
The tragedy occurred around 9.40am local time in Xiangfen in northern Shanxi province, according to the New China agency, which quotes the authorities. By early evening, 45 people had been taken out of the rubble, including 17 dead, seven seriously injured and 21 more slightly affected, according to the same source.
#UPDATE At least 13 dead, 4 seriously injured as restaurant collapses in #N. China.
So far, 43 people have been brought out, including the dead and four seriously injured ones. https://t.co/U2ibYOYsNX
Videos broadcast by public television CCTV show firefighters in orange gear, soldiers in fatigues and ordinary residents clearing concrete blocks by hand or with iron bars. The building had two levels, a ground floor and a second floor. It appears in Chinese media images totally gutted, with entire sections of walls collapsed in the middle of the old dining room.
The cause of the collapse was not immediately known.