China jails 15 over building collapse that killed dozens

China has sentenced 15 individuals to prison for their roles in the collapse of a commercial building in Changsha in April 2022, which resulted in the deaths of over 50 people and nine injuries. The incident, which highlighted issues of corruption and lax construction standards, sparked public outrage after it was revealed that the building had been constructed illegally.

Among those sentenced, Wu Zhiyong, a resident of the building deemed partly responsible, received an 11-year prison term. Other sentences included 12 years for the former deputy chief of a state-backed municipal water company, convicted of dereliction of duty and bribery. Additionally, a local structural testing firm was fined one million yuan (US$140,000), and several employees were jailed for providing false safety documentation.

The court found that Wu and others lacked the necessary construction qualifications but still built and rented the property to catering and accommodation companies, despite major structural hazards. No corrective measures were taken, leading to the eventual collapse, which caused significant casualties and financial losses.

Building collapses in China are not uncommon, often due to corruption and inadequate enforcement of safety standards. Similar incidents, such as the collapse of a park pavilion in Changzhou in August, which killed six people, continue to raise concerns about the construction industry's safety oversight.