![\"10](\"https:\/\/c.ndtvimg.com\/2021-07\/250kq8n4_gym-generic-650_625x300_05_July_21.jpg\"\/ "\\"10")
<\/div>\nThe gym in Qiqihar, Heilongjiang Province collapsed just before 3 pm. (Representational)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Beijing, China: <\/b><\/p>\n
Ten people have died and one remained trapped after the roof of a school gym collapsed in northeastern China, state media reported Monday.<\/p>\n
The gym at the No. 34 Middle School in Qiqihar, Heilongjiang Province collapsed just before 3 pm (0700 GMT) on Sunday, state news agency Xinhua said.<\/p>\n
As of 5:30 am Monday, 14 people had been pulled from the wreckage, state broadcaster CCTV said, “among whom four were pulled out without vital signs, and six died after treatment failed”.<\/p>\n
Footage aired by CCTV showed the entire roof collapsed onto the gym and rescue workers picking through the debris.<\/p>\n
“A search and rescue operation involving nearly 160 firefighters and 39 fire trucks has been launched,” CCTV said.<\/p>\n
An initial investigation into the collapse found that construction workers had placed perlite — a form of volcanic glass — on the roof, Xinhua said.<\/p>\n
Heavy rain then led the perlite to expand, causing the roof to collapse, it added.<\/p>\n
“Those in charge of the construction company have been taken into police custody,” the state news agency reported.<\/p>\n
Industrial accidents are common in China due to lax safety standards and poor enforcement.<\/p>\n
One of the worst such accidents took place in 2015 in Tianjin, where a gigantic explosion at a chemical warehouse killed at least 165 people.<\/p>\n
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)<\/i><\/p>\n
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