9 trapped after Mercedes showroom building collapses in Shanghai
Emergency rescue personnel at the site of the building collapse in Shanghai.
PHOTO: Reuters
PUBLISHED ONMay 16, 2019 12:23 AM
SHANGHAI - Nine people were trapped after an automotive dealership building collapsed in Shanghai on Thursday (May 16) as it was undergoing renovation, Chinese authorities said. Rescue personnel managed to pull 11 others to safety.
The accident occurred around 11.30am in an area of central Shanghai, the fire rescue bureau of China's Ministry of Emergency Management said on its verified social media account.
Pictures posted on the account showed bloodied and dust-covered construction workers being dug out of piles of rubble, fallen concrete pillars and shattered wooden beams by emergency rescue personnel.
The low-rise building had been used as a dealership for Mercedes-Benz cars, the fire rescue bureau said.
A local resident told AFP she was taking a nap when her bed suddenly began shaking as if in an earthquake.
She then her a loud bang. "I thought it was an explosion at first," said the woman, who declined to give her name or to comment further.
The bureau did not say whether anyone was killed or provide detail of any injuries to those who were rescued.[embed]https://twitter.com/ChinaDaily/status/1128929908225445888[/embed]