SHANGHAI -- Police are investigating nine people in connection with the collapse of an under-construction residential building, the local government said yesterday. The nine people, whose names were not released, either work for the property developer, contractor, quality supervisor or the construction company involved with the project, the Minhang district government said in a statement. They have been placed under “control,” which means they haven't been detained but their movements have been restricted, the officials said, adding that the government also controlled the capital flow of the developer of the building.
On Saturday morning, one of 11 unoccupied apartment blocks of the Lotus Riverside residential complex in east Shanghai's Minhang district fell on its side, almost intact, killing a construction worker.
The 28-year-old migrant worker surnamed Xiao from Anhui province had finished his work for the day and was packing his tools when the building collapsed.
Xiao's family has arrived in Shanghai to collect his body, officials said.
Of the 629 apartments in the residential complex 489 had already been bought before the structure collapsed.
The apartments were sold at 14,300 yuan (US$2,100) per square meter on average. The price had recently shot up to 18,800 yuan per square meter.
Hundreds of angry homeowners who had bought the apartments stormed the reception office of the local government on Sunday demanding a refund and compensation.