Tue, November 11, 2008
XINING, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- The building collapse that killed five killed and injured one on Monday was not caused by the latest quake in northwest China's Qinghai Province, a safety administration official said Tuesday.
The accident happened at around 4 p.m. at Jinyuan Cement Factory in Donghe Town of Huzhu Tu Autonomous County in Haidong prefecture, more than 700 km away from the epicenter of Monday's 6.3-magnitude quake.
Workers were lifting a girder to its place with a crane for the factory's new workshop, when the girder hit another and caused a chain reaction, which led to the collapse of 12 others in total.
The accident was a production safety accident and was not directly related to the earthquake, said a safety administrator from the Haidong prefecture government, citing initial investigation results.
Three of the victims were already dead when rescuers found them in the debris. Two others died during a rescue attempt, said Jin Shenghui, general manager of the Zhengping Group Co., which runs the cement plant.
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.
A Xinhua reporter later saw at the scene two cranes parked among 12 collapsed girders on the construction site, with several safety helmets scattered around.
Yang Fenglin, the official in charge of safety production in the Department of Construction of Qinghai Province, said further investigation of the cause of the accident is still going on.
The provincial seismic network monitored more than 550 aftershocks after the Monday quake 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 in Da Qaidam, but no widespread damage has been reported.
The only injuries, so far, were three mine workers who were slightly hurt while being evacuated.
DA QAIDAM, Qinghai, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake measuring6.3 on the Richter scale hit northwest China's Qinghai Province at9:22 a.m. on Monday, but as yet no casualties have been reported. Full story
XINING, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- 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. Full story
DA QAIDAM, Qinghai, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Northwest China's Qinghai Province is working all-out to provide assistance to those affected by Monday's 6.3-magnitude earthquake, which has caused three injuries so far. Full story
by Xinhua writers Zhou Yan, Hu Ruoyu
DA QAIDAM, Qinghai, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Taxi drivers leaned against their cars chatting as they waited for passengers on a square near the town's pivotal bus station. Diners enjoyed snacks at food stalls and a few young men were playing billiards nearby.
