17 killed in China building collapse

A two-story building in central China has collapsed while workers were trying to prop up the second floor during renovations, killing 17 construction workers and injuring 23.

The collapse happened on Friday afternoon in Beiwudu in Henan province, while work was being done to shore up the building.

Forty people were pulled from the debris by early Saturday morning, including 17 killed and 23 injured - nine of them in serious condition.

People suspected of being responsible for the collapse have been taken into police custody, the county government said.

Many of the victims were crushed by falling chunks of the building.

A construction worker told state media CCTV that workers were using a hoisting jack to push up a corner of the first floor when the collapse occurred.