Society

Building collapse kills seven workers in NW China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-26 13:05

XI'AN - Local authority in Northwest China's Shaanxi province confirmed Sunday that seven construction workers were killed when a building collapsed late Saturday.

Twelve workers were adding one more floor to an existing 5-storey residence when the accident happened at 4:30 pm Saturday in Weiyang district of the provincial capital of Xi'an, burying seven of the workers working on the site, said an official with the municipal government who required anonymity.

The seven workers were later declared dead.

Initial investigation shows that the residence belonged to a farmer identified as Zhang Shuangquan, who hired the workers to do the construction on the existing building as he got wind that the structure would be demolished and with one more floor, he could squeeze more compensation from the government.

The construction is claimed to be illegal. Further investigation is still underway, according to the official.