11 August 2003

At least seven people were killed, nearly 40 injured and more than 80 trapped in a building collapse in Xiamen City, Fujian Province on 9 August 2003.

According to reports, nearly 100 migrant workers were at the construction site when the building collapsed, and many were buried.

At least 38 people were hospitalized with various injuries on 10 August after the roof collapsed were sent to several local hospitals, and Zhongshan Hospital handled 16 injured men.

One of the workers died from with serious head injuries. A rescue operation was still underway and the total number of the casualties is still not clear.

The workers were adding a second story to the building when the accident took place at around 6 pm.

The building was reportedly being constructed by a local villager, Lin Tianhou, who was hoping to rent out factory and warehouse space in the structure. However, according to a preliminary investigation by the city government, the builders did not have the proper permits and there were problems with the quality of construction.