Authorities in north China's Hebei Province said Tuesday three people died when a building in Shijiazhuang City toppled in the wake of torrential rains early Tuesday, Xinhua reported. The death toll is expected to rise as more than a dozen people were buried in the collapse. The collapse happened in the city's Nanshijiazhuang Village in Xizhaotong Township, Chang'an District. Shijiazhuang turned dark at 7 a.m. on Tuesday as rainstorms hit the city. The Hebei Provincial Weather Observatory issued warnings at 7 a.m. of probable hazards caused by the thunderstorm and torrential rain. During the morning, 65.7 mm of rain fell in the city. The building, which was under construction, collapsed at 8:30 a.m. during a loud thunderstorm, an unidentified villager said. Those buried were mostly workers in the building. Rescuers at the scene said a lightning strike toppled the building. The site of the accident was cordoned off by police. Rescue operations are underway.
