At least four dead in multiple building collapse in E China

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Four people have been confirmed dead after four residential buildings collapsed in the city of Wenzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, on Thursday trapping an estimated nine residents under the debris.

The four retrieved bodies showed no signs of life, and the fate of the remaining five is still unknown.

The victims were from two families, according to sources with the local government in Wencheng county, where the accident occurred around 8 a.m. (local time).

Rescue operation is still underway after four buildings collapsed trapping nine residents on February 2, 2017, in the city of Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province. /CFP Photo

The buildings were four to five stories tall and located in Dahui village, Baizhangji township.

After the accident, the city and county governments immediately deployed a joint emergency response team of police officers, firemen and medical workers, but little progress had been made by early afternoon.

"The scene is quite chaotic, as if the place had been leveled by an earthquake," an unnamed rescuer told Xinhua News Agency by telephone. "We have to work very carefully because the wreckages of the ruined buildings are joined to homes (that are) still standing."

Rescue operation is still underway after four buildings collapsed trapping nine residents on February 2, 2017, in the city of Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province. /CFP Photo

One of the adjacent homes, he said, was already damaged with a big hole in its outer wall.

Investigators are yet to confirm the cause of the accident.

Weather has not been unusual in the past few days. The county has seen no rain, high winds or any extreme weather or geological conditions recently.

(Story with inputs from Xinhua)

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