The roof of a gymnasium collapsed on Sunday afternoon at a junior high school in northeastern China, killing at least 11 people.

Local media say the school was in summer recess, and members of a volleyball team were practicing in its gym.State-run China Central Television says the accident occurred in Qiqihar, Heilongjiang Province.

The broadcaster says 19 people were in the gym at the time of the accident, and eight of them survived after escaping on their own or being rescued by emergency workers. But it says 11 others have been confirmed dead.

Images from the accident site show the damage to the gym and emergency workers carrying people on stretchers.

Work is underway to construct a new building next to the gym. It is believed that the builders had illegally piled up construction materials on the gym roof, and this led to its collapse.

Police have detained those responsible for the construction to investigate what caused the accident.

nhk