Beijing - At least eight people died and others were feared trapped under rubble after a mosque under construction collapsed in north-western China's Qinghai province, state media said Friday. About 24 people were injured in the collapse at Taer town in Qinghai's Datong county Thursday, including three in serious condition, the official Xinhua news agency said.
Rescuers feared the number of casualties could still rise. At the time of the accident, 31 people were working at the site.
One 8-year-old boy who had played on the building site was among the dead, the agency said. Seven of the victims died at the accident site, one in hospital.
Rescue efforts were abandoned Friday, Xinhua said.
All the victims were from the traditionally Muslim Hui ethnic group, which makes up the majority of the 38,000-inhabitant town, located 44 kilometres from the provincial capital, Xining.
Officials were investigating the possibility that a supporting beam might have failed, the agency said. Police arrested a building contractor in connection with the accident.
