Miracle survivor week after Chinese building falls
BEIJING: Chinese authorities raised the number of people confirmed dead in a building collapse to 26, a week after the block caved in and emergency workers launched a massive rescue operation to pull out survivors.
The commercial building in central Changsha city collapsed last Friday and the 10th person pulled alive from the rubble had been buried in debris for six days.
She was conscious during her rescue and even advised rescuers on how to bring her out safely, official news agency Xinhua reported.
More people are still believed to be missing in the debris.
Another woman who survived about 88 hours in the debris told state media that she was studying on her bed at the time of the collapse and managed to stay alive by holding on to a small amount of water and using her quilt to keep warm.
Rescuers have been able to find live victims with the help of sniffer dogs, life detectors and drones, as well as shouting and knocking survivors, according to Xinhua.
Eleven people – including the building’s owner and a team of safety inspectors – have been detained in connection with the collapse, including two people suspected of engaging in “illegal alteration” of the building, according to Changsha authorities.
Officials alleged that surveyors falsified a safety audit of the building.
A top Communist Party official was also dispatched – an indication of the severity of the disaster.