Eleven people have been killed after the roof of a middle school gym collapsed in Qiqihar, China, on July 23.

Among the dead at No. 34 Middle School of Qiqihar are believed to be young female volleyball players.

According to local authorities, there were 19 people in the gym at the time of the collapse and four escaped on their own.

A preliminary investigation found that construction workers illegally placed perlite on the roof of the gymnasium during the construction of a teaching building adjacent to the gymnasium. Under the influence of rainfall, the perlite soaked up water and gained weight, resulting in the roof collapse.

An in-depth investigation is ongoing. Those in charge of the construction company have been taken into police custody.

STORY: 11 killed in middle school gym roof collapse in northeast China
DATELINE: July 24, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:22
LOCATION: QIQIHAR, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY
 
SHOTLIST:
1. various of rescue scene
 
STORYLINE:
 
Rescuers said Monday that eleven people have been killed in a roof collapse in a middle school gymnasium that took place on Sunday in Qiqihar City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.
 
All 15 trapped were pulled out as the last trapped person was found Monday morning without vital signs, the rescue headquarters for the accident said at around 10 a.m. Monday.
 
The remaining four people have been checked without life-threatening injuries.
 
The roof collapse was reported at 2:56 p.m. Sunday, according to the provincial fire and rescue department. There were 19 people in the gymnasium covering about 1,200 square meters at the No. 34 Middle School of Qiqihar in Longsha District when the accident occurred. Four people escaped on their own and 15 were trapped, the municipal search and rescue headquarters said.
 
A preliminary investigation found that construction workers illegally placed perlite on the roof of the gymnasium during the construction of a teaching building adjacent to the gymnasium. Under the influence of rainfall, the perlite soaked up water and gained weight, resulting in the roof collapse.
 
An in-depth investigation is ongoing. Those in charge of the construction company have been taken into police custody.
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Qiqihar, China.
(XHTV)