Hong Kong (CNN) — At least eleven people are dead after the roof of a school gymnasium collapsed during a student volleyball team practice in northeastern China Sunday afternoon, according to local officials. Nineteen people were at the middle school gymnasium in Heilongjiang province’s Qiqihar city when the accident happened, including two coaches and 17 players on the school’s women’s team, state media reported Monday, citing local officials. Reports did not specify the ages of the victims, but local media reports cited interviews with team parents, two of whom said their children were 15 and 16 respectively. Images circulating in local media showed a large crowd of people gathered outside the school Monday, where a front walkway was covered with flowers brought by mourners. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Eleven dead in China after school gymnasium roof collapses onto student volleyball team."

Source: CNN July 25, 2023 19:45 UTC