Injured Li Zhiyong received treatment this morning at the Aviation Industry Center Hospital / photographed by reporter Fuding.
Three workers buried in illegal construction collapse have died
The incident occurred at a construction site in Sunhe Township, Chaoyang District; two injured are still hospitalized. The urban management department had repeatedly asked the homeowner to dismantle the makeshift house. The safety supervision department has intervened.
According to reports (News Observer Sun Xinghai Nightline Reporting Group), at 8:30 PM on November 1st, after a heavy snowfall, a makeshift house at a construction site in Shenjia Village, Sunhe Township, Chaoyang District collapsed, burying 10 people. By 9:00 AM today, three people had died in the accident and two were still being treated in the hospital.
It is understood that the house collapse was related to the sudden heavy snowfall and the fact that the house was an illegal structure. The safety supervision department has already intervened in the investigation of the matter.
When the reporter arrived at the scene yesterday, they saw that the construction site was located about 100 meters north of the Huanggang Police Station, with only one entrance which was already guarded by someone, prohibiting outsiders from entering. Witnesses said that at the time of the incident, they heard a loud rumbling sound of collapse and saw many workers running out of the construction site.
Rescue personnel introduced that the accident site covered about 400 square meters, originally a factory, now used as worker dormitories.
From the rescue personnel on the day of the incident, it was learned that after the incident, the workers first rescued six people buried on the surface, then dug out four more. Afterwards, eight search dogs brought by the search dog team conducted a thorough search of the site.
Hospital Visit
Two brothers injured simultaneously, now out of danger
At 9:00 AM today, two injured individuals, Li Zhiyong and Li Zhixiang, were still receiving treatment at the Aviation Industry Center Hospital's Neurosurgery and General Surgery departments. They are both now out of danger.
These two brothers are about 30 years old and are from Baoding, Hebei Province. Younger brother Li Zhiyong suffered external head injuries and hand fractures, while his older brother sustained chest compression injuries. Neither dared to tell their family about the injuries, and the construction side hired two caregivers to look after them.
"That night it was particularly cold, so we went to bed early." Li Zhiyong sighed repeatedly, saying that if they hadn't gone to bed so early, this wouldn't have happened.
According to the Li brothers, before going to sleep, they usually chatted or played cards, but that night the workers went to bed at 7:00 PM. Later, they suddenly felt something hit their heads, then heard someone shouting "Something happened, run out quickly," but it was too late, the house collapsed instantly.
After the incident, Li Zhiyong managed to crawl out from the rubble himself and was then taken to the hospital by ambulance. Li Zhixiang was knocked unconscious on the spot, "I woke up here" he said.
The brothers' wards are separated by one building, and they haven't seen each other since being hospitalized. The messages were relayed by a small contractor named "Old Hu" who came to visit them.
When the reporter met Old Hu at the hospital, he was busy consulting doctors and taking X-rays. It is understood that all the hospital procedures were handled by him alone. In response to the reporter's inquiries, he was unwilling to say much.
Worker Testimony
A nearby incomplete wall caused the accident
As for the reason for the collapse of the makeshift house, Li Zhiyong analyzed that it wasn't due to the heavy snow, but rather the collapse of a nearby incomplete wall.
"That wall was very close to where we slept, slightly higher than the walls on this side," Li Zhiyong said. Originally, three more walls were supposed to be built around it, but unexpectedly, the strong wind that night blew down the wall, causing the makeshift house to collapse along with it.
It is understood that the makeshift house involved in the incident was originally a warehouse housing 30 people. There were three large bunk beds placed respectively on the north side, middle, and west side, each sleeping 10 people. The collapsed wall was located on the north side of the warehouse, and when it fell, it exactly crushed the roof beside it, burying all 10 people sleeping on the north side.
"When it fell, it formed a trapezoid shape, with the middle part being the most severe. The three people who died were all sleeping in the middle. My brother and I slept on the side, others had minor injuries," Li Zhiyong recalled, still feeling frightened.
Latest Developments
Multiple factors led to the collapse, responsible persons detained
This morning, the Chaoyang Urban Management Department informed us that the house involved in the incident was self-built by the homeowner without any approval procedures. The Urban Management Department had previously issued multiple notices for illegal construction, requiring self-demolition, but the homeowner ignored these requests.
The Chaoyang Safety Supervision Department stated that the house collapse was not only due to the heavy snow covering the roof extensively, but also due to the strong winds causing structural shifts in the building, as well as the workers returning to their rooms to sleep that evening. These factors ultimately led to the main components of the building being severely overloaded until it collapsed.
It is learned that the police have already detained the relevant responsible persons, and the makeshift house has been ordered to be demolished. The incident is still under further investigation.