Dozens killed in China construction accident

2016-11-24 9

At least 40 people have been killed at a power plant in central China after a construction platform collapsed, state news agency Xinhua says

That number of dead is expected to rise, with several others still thought to be trapped under the debris. Five workers have been taken to hospital.

The accident is reported to have taken place at 7.00 am local time inside a cooling tower which was being built at the plant in Fengcheng, in Jiangxi Province.

More than 30 fire engines and over 200 soldiers have been deployed.

The cause of the collapse is still not clear but deadly accidents are relatively common at industrial sites in China and there has been growing public anger over lax standards. The government has vowed to improve safety.