13 missing after construction site collapse in China

The ground "suddenly gave way" under a section of the Shenzhen-Jiangmen railway line around 23 p.m. Wednesday evening, according to a statement from the Bao'an District Emergency Management Bureau.

No victims had been found by Thursday morning, but the search continues.

Authorities have also relocated residents from areas surrounding the disaster, the statement added. An investigation has been opened to determine the cause of the collapse.

Photos and videos were circulating on social media Thursday showing a large cavity in the ground, surrounded by collapsed building materials.

Major highways near the site were closed Thursday morning to facilitate rescue operations, local officials said.

Construction of the section from Shenzhen to Jiangmen in Guangdong province began in 2022.

Soil collapses on construction sites occur when the ground can no longer support the weight of structures, and frequently occur in densely populated areas, on fragile soils or during large-scale projects.

The main causes are geological instability, inadequate excavation techniques or non-compliance with safety standards.

Industrial accidents are common in China, partly because of unclear regulations and often lax safety protocols.

In August, an accident at a mine in neighboring Sichuan province killed eight people.

In March, a gas explosion in northern Hebei province killed seven people and injured dozens more.

And in February, 15 people died in a fire at a residential building in the eastern city of Nanjing.