Chinese alarm after second gym collapse in Heilongjiang province kills three

Chinese people have expressed alarm online after another gymnasium collapsed in the north-eastern province of Heilongjiang, the second in months.

The collapse on Monday night resulted in the tragic loss of three lives, following a period of uncharacteristically cold weather and heavy snowfall.

Details concerning the victims are pending disclosure, although reports indicated the presence of children inside the gym during the incident. Videos circulating online depicted rescuers sifting through snow-covered debris on the basketball court in search of survivors. Another widely shared video captured a distraught woman racing towards the building on an icy street, frantically shouting, "My son! My son is in there."

Authorities, on Tuesday, confirmed the deaths of three individuals and one severe injury within the Yuecheng Gym Stadium in Jiamusi city. An individual in charge of the gym has been detained by authorities, who have not yet provided additional specifics. The cause of the second-floor collapse remains unclear.

The incident has evoked immediate parallels with a previous gymnasium collapse earlier in the year in the same province, claiming the lives of 11 individuals. In July, heavy rains led to the collapse of a school gymnasium in Qiqihar city. Officials attributed the collapse to the weight of construction materials left by contractors. Following the tragedy, checks were conducted on other buildings in the area.

Nevertheless, concerned citizens have demanded answers following the Jiamusi disaster, with the topic becoming the most discussed on Weibo, garnering over 1.3 billion views. Users have expressed frustration, questioning the efficacy of safety checks, with some labeling this a preventable man-made disaster.

Although authorities initially did not confirm whether the Yuecheng Gym Stadium had undergone inspections subsequent to the July incident, a BBC check of the county authorities' WeChat account revealed a post indicating safety checks had been carried out in July.

Local sentiments online urge authorities to take further action, advocating for increased inspections of large public facilities in the province to prevent future tragedies. They emphasize the need for accountability and swift action to ensure public safety.

Heilongjiang, the northernmost province of China, has been grappling with an abrupt cold spell, enduring blizzard conditions that led to school closures and numerous flight and train cancellations. Authorities have cautioned residents to remain indoors due to severe weather warnings, with expectations of more blizzard conditions and warnings about icy roads and downed power lines according to state media reports.