'Last Victim' Pulled From Rubble Of Quarantine Hotel

The death toll from the collapse of a coronavirus quarantine facility in eastern China rose to 29 on Thursday as the final victim was recovered from the rubble, authorities said.

Dozens of people were pulled alive from the wreckage of the six-storey Xinjian hotel in the coastal city of Quanzhou, which collapsed on Saturday night.

More than 40 were injured in the accident, with 27 found dead in the rubble and two dying later from their injuries, according to state media.

China's emergency management ministry said the body of the final victim was recovered on Thursday morning.

The State Council has set up an investigation into the collapse, the ministry said.

The building had been repurposed to house people who recently had contact with patients confirmed with Covid-19, the state-run People's Daily newspaper reported.

The hotel collapsed on Saturday night, with footage published by local media appearing to show the building's facade crumbling to the ground in seconds, exposing the structure's steel frame.

A preliminary investigation found serious problems with its construction, the People's Daily reported on Wednesday, citing the deputy mayor of Quanzhou, Hong Ziqiang.

Xinhua, meanwhile, quoted Hong as saying that “those responsible for the accident have been taken into custody," but gave no details. (AFP/ AP)