China School Gym Roof Collapse Leaves Eleven Dead

Authorities in China’s far northeast have reported that eleven people were killed when the roof of a school gym collapsed.

The last person was extricated from the rubble on Monday morning in the city of Qiqihar after the collapse occurred on Sunday. The official Xinhua News Agency reported that construction workers at the school had materials that absorbed rainwater stored on the roof.

According to Xinhua, there were 19 persons in the gym at Middle School No. 34, but it was unclear how many of them were students.

Parents who were upset with the authorities for what they claimed was a lack of communication were shown on social media and the Baidu news website.

Police and government agencies concerned about social instability normally put an end to such outbursts of rage and defiance right away.

The in-power Communist Party forbids any challenges to its dominance and works to maintain complete control over the media and social media.

Construction and industrial accidents are common in China, primarily as a result of businesses disregarding safety regulations and either corruption or a lack of care on the side of local government officials.

These issues are particularly severe in second and third-tier cities, like Qiqihar, which is located in Heilongjiang, a rustbelt region in China that borders Russia and has recently experienced widespread economic deterioration and outmigration.