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The hotel project did not undergo basic construction processes and had no construction planning or permit, preliminary investigation showed.
The property owner found signs of the hotel foundation sinking and the load-bearing pillar deforming before the collapse but continued its business anyway, while local supervising departments failed to function properly, according to the investigation team.
The death toll rose to 29 Thursday after the Xinjia Hotel collapsed on Saturday night in Licheng district of the city of Quanzhou, trapping 71 people underneath.
Those responsible for the accident have been taken into custody, said Hong Ziqiang, executive deputy mayor of Quanzhou.
Construction of the building began in 2013, with a floor area of around 7,000 square meters. It was converted into a hotel in 2018 with 66 rooms.