Lift plunge kills 12 Chinese building workers

Twelve Chinese construction workers were killed yesterday after the elevator in which they were riding plunged to the ground.

Three labour contractors are being held by investigators following the accident on a site in Xiapu county at 6.40am.

All sites in the county are under orders to suspend work and improve safety, according to the China Daily newspaper.

It is the latest in a string of fatal construction accidents in China, which has been criticised for its appalling health and safety record.

On Tuesday, 11 workers were killed and 12 injured in a crane accident in Chongqing.