2010-07-05 20:46

KUNMING - Three houses collapsed in southwest China's Yunnan Province Monday, killing four children from two families, said government authorities.

Five other family members were injured after their makeshift lodging houses were crushed by the collapse of an empty house which had been in disrepair in Qilin District of Yunnan's Qujing City, according to a written statement from the publicity department of Qujing City.

The accident occurred at 8 am Monday in Maliuzhuang Village in Qilin District. Days of continuous rains might have triggered the collapse of the empty house, a villager said.

The dead were said to be aged from four months to five years old, and their parents were believed to be migrant workers from Guizhou Province, the statement said.

Further, the injured were taken to hospital for treatment and their injuries were reportedly not life threatening, according to the statement.

Local authorities are investigating the cause of the tragedy.