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Five dead after building collapses in quake-hit China province

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-11 14:08

XINING - Five workers died and one was seriously injured when building in northwest China's Qinghai Province collapsed Monday afternoon, company sources and the safety administration said.

The accident happened around 4 pm at Jinyuan Cement Factory in Donghe Town of Huzhu Tu Autonomous County.

Related readings:  Two hurt as earthquake hits Qinghai  6.3-magnitude earthquake hits NW China's Qinghai

Workers were putting the finishing touches on the factory's new workshop when it suddenly collapsed, burying six people, said Jin Shenghui, general manager of the Zhengping Group Co., which runs the cement plant.

Three of the victims were already dead when rescuers found them in the debris. Two others died during an emergency rescue, Jin said.

The only victim still alive is being treated at the People's Hospital in the provincial capital of Xining. He is still in critical condition but "might still survive", Jin said, quoting a doctor.

The local work safety supervision administration has launched an investigation into the accident.

The administration gave no comment as to whether the collapse was related to a 6.3-magnitude earthquake that rocked Haixi prefecture on Monday.

Huzhu, in the east of Qinghai Province, is about 40 km northeast of the provincial capital Xining.  Da Qaidam, the epicenter of the quake, is 716 km northwest of Xining.

The provincial seismic network monitored more than 550 aftershocks as of Tuesday morning, the largest measured 4.4 on the Richter scale.

The quake and aftershocks cracked walls of some houses near the epicenter but no widespread damage has been reported.

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