In China, a school gymnasium's roof collapsed, leaving ten people dead.

 A preliminary investigation revealed that during construction of a teaching facility next to the gymnasium in China's Qiqihar city, perlite, a mineral with a high water content, was unlawfully placed on the roof by construction workers, according to Xinhua.

State media stated on July 24, 2023, that a school gymnasium's concrete roof fell on Sunday in China's Qiqihar city, killing 10 people and trapping one more.

Authorities reportedly retrieved 14 people from the rubble after initially believing that 15 people were buried beneath it, according to CCTV.

According to the provincial fire and rescue agency, the collapse at the No. 34 Middle School in Longsha District in Qiqihar, which is found in Heilongjiang Province in northeast China, was reported around 2:56 p.m. (0656 GMT) on Sunday.

19 persons were present in the gymnasium when the incident took place. According to the local search and rescue center, four persons managed to escape, while 15 others were trapped, state media reported.

14 individuals have been extricated from the wreckage as of 3 a.m. (1900 GMT) on Monday, three of whom had no vital signs. According to state media, six people died after therapy failed.

Social media images of the incident showed a completely collapsed roof with rescue personnel in the gym adjacent to huge concrete chunks.

In other images, huge cranes could be seen being raised on the side of the school as rescue operations continued.

This past weekend, there was a lot of rain in the area and in certain areas of China, which led to floods and damage in some places.

According to a preliminary inquiry, building workers illegally added perlite, a mineral with a high water content, to the gym's roof while constructing a teaching structure next to it, according to Xinhua.

According to official media, the roof collapsed as a result of the perlite absorbing water from the persistent rains and gaining weight.

People in charge of the construction company have been placed into police custody while a thorough investigation is being conducted, according to Xinhua.