China hotel collapse death toll climbs to 17: media

Beijing, Jul 14 (EFE).- The number of people killed in the collapse of an annex of a hotel in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou has climbed to 17, local authorities reported Wednesday, according to state news agency Xinhua.

The collapse occurred at 3.33 pm on Monday, trapping 23 people, 17 of whom have died, while five were injured and one was unharmed.

The search and rescue operation, involving 120 fire trucks, 650 troops, four search dogs and four cranes to reinforce structures and prevent further collapses, ended on Wednesday morning.

The causes of the incident are still being investigated, although preliminary probes indicate that the collapse was triggered by an unauthorized renovation of the building, according to the local government, cited by Xinhua.

Local police have detained an unspecified number of people in charge of the hotel for investigation, state China Daily reported. EFE

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