FUZHOU, March 12 (Xinhua) -- A hotel building collapsed in east China's Fujian Province Saturday evening. Rescue and investigation are underway...

The death toll has risen to 29 in a hotel collapse in eastern China's Fujian Province, as rescuers found another victim on Thursday.

Rescuers found the dead body of the victim at 11:04 a.m. in the city of Quanzhou, according to the local rescue headquarters.

The Xinjia Hotel collapsed on Saturday night in Licheng District, trapping 71 people underneath. Of them, 27 were dead when rescuers found them, while two others died after medical efforts failed.

A preliminary investigation has shown serious problems exist in the construction, renovation and examination and approval of the hotel.

A preliminary investigation has shown serious problems exist in the construction, renovation and examination and approval of the collapsed hotel in east China's Fujian Province, according to a press conference Wednesday.

Those responsible for the accident have been taken into custody, said Hong Ziqiang, executive deputy mayor of the city of Quanzhou where the hotel building collapsed Saturday evening.

Seventy people had been pulled out of the debris of the Xinjia Hotel in Quanzhou's Licheng District by 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, and among them, 28 had died.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="570"] Photo taken on March 11, 2020 shows the site of a hotel building collapse in Quanzhou, east China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)[/caption]

At the time of the collapse, a total of 71 people were trapped. Rescue workers are searching for the final person who remains missing.

By Tuesday, 10 injured had been discharged from local hospital.

Construction of the building, with a floor area of around 7,000 square meters, began in 2013. It was converted into a hotel in 2018 with 66 rooms.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="570"] Photo taken on March 11, 2020 shows the site of a hotel building collapse in Quanzhou, east China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)[/caption]

The death toll from a hotel building collapse in east China's Fujian Province on Saturday has risen to 26 by Wednesday morning, local authorities said.

Sixty-eight people had been pulled out of the debris of Xinjia Hotel in Licheng district in the city of Quanzhou by 6:40 a.m. Wednesday, and among them, 26 had died, said the rescue headquarters.

At the time of the collapse, a total of 71 people were trapped. Rescue workers are searching for another three people who remain missing.

On Tuesday, 10 injured had been discharged from local hospital.

Construction of the building, with a floor area of around 7,000 square meters, began in 2013. It was converted into a hotel in 2018 with 66 rooms.

The hotel collapse is a production accident as the building had been illegally reconstructed several times, Shang Yong, deputy head of the Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM), told a press conference on Tuesday.

The MEM has pledged to launch a comprehensive accident investigation to identify the cause, he added.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="570"] A man was rescued from the hotel building collapse in Quanzhou, east China's Fujian Province, March 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)[/caption]

One man was rescued and sent to hospital at 4:37 p.m. Tuesday from a hotel building collapse in east China's Fujian Province on Saturday.

The survivor was rescued 69 hours after being trapped in the rubble of the Xinjia Hotel in Licheng district in the city of Quanzhou.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="570"] The survivor was sent to hospital after being pulled out of the debris in Quanzhou, east China's Fujian Province, March 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)[/caption]

Sixty-two people have so far been pulled out of the debris, and among them, 20 had died, said local authorities.

At the time of the collapse, a total of 71 people were trapped. Rescuers are searching for another nine people who remain missing.

Construction of the building, with a floor area of around 7,000 square meters, began in 2013. It was converted into a hotel in 2018 with 66 rooms.

The hotel collapse in east China's Fujian Province is a production accident as the building used for coronavirus quarantine had been illegally reconstructed several times, a senior official said Tuesday.

As of 9 a.m. Tuesday, 61 people were rescued from the collapsed Xinjia Hotel in Licheng district in the city of Quanzhou, and among them, 20 had died, Shang Yong, deputy head of the Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM), told a press conference.

Ten remain missing and rescue efforts are still underway, Shang said.

After the accident, the local fire department of Quanzhou City sent 361 fire fighters to the site, while Fujian Province dispatched another 11 search and rescue teams with over 800 fire fighters to engage in the rescue.

Noting potential infection risks, the ministry has mobilized protective gear and disinfectants in the rescue action to minimize exposure.

Shang said the accident has exposed safety loopholes neglected by local authorities.

The MEM has pledged to launch a comprehensive accident investigation to identify the cause and hold relevant officials accountable after the investigation is complete, he added.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="570"] Medical workers transfer a rescued woman to an ambulance at the accident site of a hotel building collapse in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, March 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)[/caption]

The death toll from a hotel building collapse in east China's Fujian Province on Saturday evening has risen to 18 by Tuesday morning, local authorities said.

Fifty-nine people had been pulled out of the debris of Xinjia Hotel in Licheng district in the city of Quanzhou by 6:50 a.m. Tuesday, and among them, 18 had died, said the rescue headquarters.

At the time of the collapse, a total of 71 people were trapped. Rescue workers are searching for another 12 people who remain missing.

On Monday night, a 10-year-old boy and his mother were rescued 52 hours after being trapped in the rubble.

Construction of the building, with a floor area of around 7,000 square meters, began in 2013. It was converted into a hotel in 2018 with 66 rooms.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="570"] A rescuer carries a boy at the accident site of a hotel building collapse in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, March 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Zeng Demeng)[/caption]

A total of 52 people have been pulled out of the debris as of 8:00 p.m. Monday after a hotel building collapsed in east China's Fujian Province Saturday evening, local authorities said.

The death toll from the collapse has risen to 13 as of 8:00 p.m. Monday.

At the time of the collapse, a total of 71 people were trapped.

The death toll from a hotel building collapse in east China's Fujian Province on Saturday evening has risen to 11 by Monday afternoon, local authorities said.

Fifty people have been pulled out of the debris of Xinjia Hotel in Licheng District in the city of Quanzhou by 2 p.m. Monday and among them, 11 have died, said the rescue headquarters.

The rescuers found a mother and her child in the rubble at 8:18 p.m. Efforts are underway to rescue them.

"We had just finished lunch when the building suddenly sank," said Dong Lin, a guest in room 506. "I thought it was an earthquake. Before I reacted, the whole building collapsed. I called out to my wife but I couldn't find her."

"She was stuck right next to me but my whole lower body couldn't move," Dong said.

After being trapped for more than three hours, Dong and his wife were rescued and sent to hospital.

"Hearing the arrival of the rescue workers, I felt there was hope I would survive," he said.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="570"] Rescuers work at the accident site of Xinjia Hotel in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, March 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)[/caption]

The death toll from a hotel building collapse in east China's Fujian Province on Saturday evening has risen to 11 by Monday afternoon, local authorities said.

Fifty people have been pulled out of the debris of Xinjia Hotel in Licheng District in the city of Quanzhou by 2 p.m. Monday and among them, 11 have died, said the rescue headquarters.

"We had just finished lunch when the building suddenly sank," said Dong Lin, a guest in room 506. "I thought it was an earthquake. Before I reacted, the whole building collapsed. I called out to my wife but I couldn't find her."

"She was stuck right next to me but my whole lower body couldn't move," Dong said.

After being trapped for more than three hours, Dong and his wife were rescued and sent to hospital.

"Hearing the arrival of the rescue workers, I felt there was hope I would survive," he said.

At the time of the collapse, a total of 71 people were trapped and nine more managed to escape themselves. Twenty-one individuals remain trapped as rescue efforts are ongoing.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="570"] Rescuers work at the accident site of a hotel in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, March 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)[/caption]

The death toll has risen to 11 by Monday afternoon, local authorities said.

Fifty people have been pulled out of the debris of Xinjia Hotel in Licheng District in the city of Quanzhou by 2 p.m. Monday and among them, 11 have died, said the rescue headquarters.

Twenty-one remained trapped and the rescue operation is underway.

At the time of the collapse, a total of 71 people were trapped and nine more managed to escape themselves.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="570"] Photo taken on March 8, 2020 shows the accident site of a hotel in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)[/caption]

The death toll has risen to 10 as of 4:00 p.m. Sunday after a hotel building collapsed in east China's Fujian Province Saturday evening, local authorities said.

Forty-eight people had been pulled from the rubble and 23 others remain trapped.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="570"] Rescuers work at the accident site of a hotel in Quanzhou, east China's Fujian Province, March 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)[/caption]

A total of 28 people remain trapped as of 11:30 a.m. Sunday after a hotel building collapsed in east China's Fujian Province Saturday evening, local authorities said.

Forty-three people had been pulled from the rubble, of whom six had no vital signs when rescued, and one died later in hospital.

Four people were confirmed dead as of 10:30 a.m. Sunday after a hotel building collapsed in east China's Fujian Province Saturday evening, local authorities said.

The Xinjia Hotel collapsed at around 7:15 p.m. in Licheng District of the city of Quanzhou, trapping 71 people.

Preliminary investigation showed the hotel building was under house decoration when the accident occured and the owner of the building has been put under police control.

Among the rescued, a boy aged around two was pulled from the rubble in the early hours of the morning. His parents were also rescued and sent to the hospital for treatment. A teenage boy was saved at around 11:24 a.m.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="570"] Rescuers work at the accident site of a hotel in Quanzhou, east China's Fujian Province, March 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Yan Zhihong)[/caption]

The hotel building collapsed in east China's Fujian Province when it was under house decoration and the owner of the building has been put under police control, local authorities said Sunday.

Two supermarkets on the first floor were under remodeling when the accident happened, and a pillar was reported to undergo deformation just a few minutes prior to the collapse, according to Zhang Yi, director of the housing and urban-rural development bureau in the district.

Zhang added that it needed further investigation whether the collapse was due to house decoration or structural problem.

Construction of the building, with a floor area of 7,000 square meters, began in 2013. It was converted into a hotel in 2018 with 66 rooms, according to Zhang.

Forty-nine people have been rescued as of 8:20 a.m. Sunday after a hotel building collapsed in east China's Fujian Province Saturday evening, local authorities said.

The Xinjia Hotel collapsed around 7:15 p.m. in Licheng District of the city of Quanzhou.

Further rescue is under way.

Forty-three people have been rescued after a hotel building collapsed in east China's Fujian Province Saturday evening, local authorities said.

The hotel opened in 2018 and had 80 rooms.

Among the 43 people who had been rescued as of 12:30 a.m. Sunday, a child aged two or three years old was pulled from the rubble by rescue workers in the early hours of the morning.

The Ministry of Emergency Management has sent a work team to Quanzhou to help with rescue and investigate the cause of accident. The ministry urged all-out efforts to rescue the victims and emphasized the prevention of secondary disasters, while ensuring the safety of rescue teams.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="570"] Photo taken on March 7, 2020 shows rescue operations at the accident site of a hotel in Quanzhou, east China's Fujian Province. (Str/Xinhua)[/caption]

More than 1,000 fire fighters have rushed to help with rescue work after a hotel used for coronavirus quarantine collapsed Saturday evening in east China's Fujian Province, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM).

Local fire department of Quanzhou City, where the accident occured, sent more than 200 fire fighters to the site, while Fujian Province dispatched 11 search and rescue teams with over 800 fire fighters and seven rescue dogs, said the MEM.

A preliminary report said about 70 people were trapped and 38 people had been rescued as of 23:20, Saturday.

A work team sent by the MEM to help with rescue and investigate the cause of accident is on its way to the site.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="570"] Rescuers work at the accident site of a hotel in Quanzhou, east China's Fujian Province, March 7, 2020. (Str/Xinhua)[/caption]

Thirty-eight people have been rescued after a hotel building collapsed in east China's Fujian Province Saturday evening, local authorities said.

Rescuers wearing masks were using ropes to pull trapped people out of the rubble, according to Xinhua reporters at the site. High-voltage power lines were lying over the rubble, although firefighters said it was not clear if the lines would hamper rescue work.

"The hotel has six floors and a cellar. When it collapsed, I heard big sounds and felt some tremor," said a resident living nearby.

The Ministry of Emergency Management has sent a work team to the city of Quanzhou, Fujian Province, after a hotel building there collapsed Saturday evening.

The work team will help with rescue work and investigate the cause of accident, said a source of the ministry.

The ministry urged all-out efforts to rescue the victims and emphasized the prevention of secondary disasters, while ensuring the safety of rescue teams.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="570"] A rescue vehicle heads to the accident site in Quanzhou, east China's Fujian Province, March 7, 2020. (Str/Xinhua)[/caption]

Thirty-three people have been rescued after a hotel building collapsed in east China's Fujian Province Saturday evening, local authorities said.

The Xinjia Hotel in Licheng District of the city of Quanzhou collapsed at around 7:15 p.m. Saturday.

According to the preliminary report, about 70 people were trapped. As of 9:30 p.m., 33 people had been rescued.

Sources with the municipal authorities said the hotel has been used to quarantine and observe people who had come from other provinces during the novel coronavirus prevention and control.

A total of 147 rescue workers have been sent to the scene. Further rescue is under way.

Twenty-three people have been rescued after a hotel building collapsed in the city of Quanzhou, east China's Fujian Province, Saturday evening, local authorities said.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="570"] A rescue vehicle heads to the accident site in Quanzhou, east China's Fujian Province, March 7, 2020. (Str/Xinhua)[/caption]

Sixteen people have been rescued after a hotel building collapsed in the city of Quanzhou, east China's Fujian Province, Saturday evening, local authorities said.

The accident happened at around 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Licheng District.

Further rescue work is underway.

Sixteen people have been rescued after a hotel building collapsed in the city of Quanzhou, east China's Fujian Province, Saturday evening, local authorities said. ■