11 killed as roof collapses at a school in China

The accident occurred Sunday in Qiqihar city, and the last victim was pulled from the rubble Monday morning. The official Xinhua news agency said construction work at the school was the likely cause, after workers stored materials on the roof of the gymnasium that absorbed rainwater.
Xinhua said 19 people were in the No. 34 Middle School gymnasium, but gave no details on the number of students. Social media and the Baidu news site posted footage of angry parents complaining about what they said was a lack of communication from the authorities.

Such expressions of anger and defiance are usually quickly suppressed by police and government departments concerned about social unrest. The ruling Communist Party does not allow any challenge to its authority and seeks complete control over the press and social media.
Construction accidents and industrial accidents are regular occurrences in China, largely caused by companies ignoring safety standards and corruption or lack of diligence on the part of local government agencies.
These problems are particularly acute in second- and third-tier cities such as Qiqihar, which is located in China’s Heilongjiang province bordering Russia and which has seen widespread economic decline and out-migration in recent years.