Building collapse kills 8 in China

BEIJING: A four-storey residential building under construction in northern China collapsed, killing eight workers and injuring three others, state media reported Sunday.

The nearly-completed building collapsed in the city of Xian early Saturday and more than 300 rescue personnel worked until 3 am Sunday (1900 GMT Saturday) to free survivors, official news agency reported.

The three injured, including the building's owner, were being treated in hospital, the report cited Mi Weixin, deputy secretary general of Xian municipal government, as saying.

Residents in neighbouring buildings were evacuated due to safety concerns, agency said.

Faulty construction materials were believed to have caused the accident, Huang Hongwu, a district official, was quoted as saying.

Police were looking for two contractors who fled after the collapse, the report said.