Cement factory construction site collapse kills one, seven still buried

Source: Xinhua  |   2009-8-18  |     ONLINE EDITION

A WORKER has died and 15 were buried when a cement mill warehouse under construction collapsed late yesterday in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, authorities confirmed today .

Rescuers, including fire fighting officers and work safety officials, are working hard to reach seven workers still buried in the debris.

A Tongliang County government source said a chamotte warehouse being constructed inside the Jinjiang Cement Factory in Tongliang County suddenly collapsed at 9:40 pm yesterday, burying all the 15 workers at the site.

A Chongqing Municipal Work Safety Bureau rescue team rushed to the site of the accident.

By 2 am today the rescuers had pulled out eight workers from the debris, one of whom later died in hospital.

Police are investigating the cause of the accident.

Chamotte, or grog, is a high silica- and alumina-content based mortar used for fire bricks.