At least eight dead in hotel collapse in China

Authorities say at least eight people have died and nine remained missing in a hotel collapse in Suzhou city in eastern China.

The hotel building collapsed Monday afternoon, the Suzhou government said.

Most people in the building at the time were hotel guests.

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Rescuers used cranes, ladders, metal cutters and search dogs to look for survivors.

Twenty-three people were trapped. Six have been rescued.

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More than 600 people, including earthquake rescue teams and 120 vehicles have been mobilised for the operation.

Suzhou city is in Jiangsu province, near Shanghai.