Death toll in Changsha reaches 53

10 survivors pulled from rubble, one still critical, investigation underway

The recent collapse of a building in Changsha, Hunan province, has officially claimed a total of 53 lives, local government officials said at a news conference on Friday.

The tragedy occurred in Wangcheng district in the provincial capital on April 29. Rescuers managed to pull 10 survivors from the rubble as of around 3 am on Friday, the city government announced.

Top Changsha officials, including Party Secretary Wu Guiying and Mayor Zheng Jianxin, offered condolences to all those affected by the accident.

The State Council, China's Cabinet, announced on Friday that it has formed an investigation team to look into the building collapse and find out how the accident happened.

"The accident has caused great damage to people's lives and property. We have learned profound lessons. We will fully cooperate with the investigation and get to the bottom of the cause of the accident. Also, we will severely deal with those responsible and give the public a responsible answer,"Wu said.

According to a preliminary investigation, the edifice was built in 2012 as a six-story building, and two stories were added in 2018. It housed catering businesses and a hotel, as well as several apartments.

On Tuesday, nine people were arrested for their role in the fatal collapse, including the owner and five people from a private engineering inspection company for allegedly producing false safety appraisal documents for the hotel in the building. Meanwhile, two others were detained for allegedly illegally altering the structure of the building.

Zheng said at a news conference on Thursday that inspections were conducted on 403,359 residential buildings in the city as of Wednesday and any hazards discovered will be addressed.

Ouyang Wen, deputy director of the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, said on Friday that the condition of nine of the survivors is stable while one female rescued after being buried for about 132 hours is not yet out of danger.

"She sustained severe injuries on her left leg and multiple bodily wounds. Although her vital signs are stable for now, her life could be in danger at any time," Ouyang said.

Meanwhile, medical experts are trying their best to save the legs of one survivor who was trapped for more than 79 hours.

"She has undergone two operations already," Ouyang said.