74 confirmed dead in platform collapse

Zhang Xiangdong, 46, receives treatment at a hospital in Yichun, Jiangxi province, on Friday. He was injured in the collapse of a power plant construction platform in Yichun, Jiangxi, on Thursday morning. Thirteen people have been detained for questioning about the accident. Provided to China Daily and Hu Chenhuan / Xinhua

State Council panel announces nationwide inspections to prevent similar work accidents

The death toll from a work platform collapse at a power plant in Yichun, Jiangxi province, rose to 74 on Friday as authorities launched a nationwide overhaul of work safety at construction sites.

Police detained 13 people who were responsible for construction of the cooling tower, where the collapse occurred, as part of the inquiry into the accident.

Rescue crews were withdrawn from the Fengcheng Power Plant site after a final search on Friday morning found no new casualties, the provincial government said.

In addition to the 74 dead, two workers were injured when a crane's collapse at about 7 am on Thursday brought down the entire construction platform inside the cooling tower at the plant.

The investigation into the accident is ongoing.

So far, authorities have confirmed the identity of 68 dead workers, ranging in age from 23 to 53. About 200 of the victims' relatives have arrived in Yichun to identify them. Grief counselors have been made available for the families, according to Xinhua News Agency.

On Friday, the State Council's Work Safety Committee announced the launch of a nationwide inspection campaign to check for safety hazards at elevated work platforms, cranes and scaffolding in an effort to prevent similar accidents.