Five-storey makeshift hospital collapses with people inside

A hotel transformed into a makeshift hospital to quarantine people who might have come into contact with people infected with the coronavirus collapsed on Sunday evening in south-eastern China.

Rescue workers scaling the collapsed building. Image by China Daily

The Xinjia Express Hotel, in Quanzhou, China, came tumbling down at around 7:30 pm local time.

Over 700 rescue workers and medics were called to the scene. So far, 43 of the 70 people trapped inside the hotel have been rescued. It's not clear what condition they are in.

Rescue workers pulling out a man trapped in the collapsed building. (Chinatopix via The Associated Press)

No word yet from Chinese authorities on how many people are still trapped.

The cause of the collapse and the number of people possibly killed remains unknown. By: Niza Nondo