On November 18, 2024, the roof of an ice rink in Baicheng City, Jilin Province collapsed. Authorities reported that the collapse occurred before the start of work hours, and there were no personnel trapped or injured. Last year, Heilongjiang Province experienced two incidents of sports venue collapses within three months, resulting in 14 fatalities.
According to reports from CCTV Net and Upstream News, at around 7:35 a.m. today, a partial collapse of the roof of the ice rink in Baicheng, Jilin occurred, with no casualties reported.
Video footage shows the roof of the building caved in, with a large amount of dust at the scene. Staff from the Baicheng City Sports Work Team mentioned that the collapse happened before work hours, avoiding any personnel being trapped.
The Baicheng City government website revealed that at the end of 2019, the ice rink in Baicheng was transferred to the Baicheng City Sports Work Team for hosting various ice skating competitions and major events. Covering an area of 7077 square meters, the facility includes a short track speed skating rink measuring 111.32 meters in circumference, capable of accommodating approximately 200 people in professional seating, as well as professional ice sports facilities.
Employees of the Baicheng City Cultural Broadcasting, Television and Tourism Bureau stated that the ice rink falls under their management, mainly used for training purposes and rarely open to the public. According to staff, the preliminary assessment of the accident points to deformation in the steel structure of the roof, possibly due to construction quality issues.
The quality of sports venue construction in mainland China has raised concerns, highlighted by the two sports venue collapses in Heilongjiang Province last year.
On July 23, 2023, a roof collapse occurred at the No. 34 Middle School gymnasium in Qiqihar, Heilongjiang Province, where 15 volleyball team members and coaches were practicing, resulting in 11 fatalities. Officials attributed the collapse to nearby construction workers placing building materials on the roof without authorization, combined with heavy rainfall increasing the roof’s weight.
On November 6, 2023, around 7:40 p.m., partial collapse took place at the Yuecheng Gymnasium in Huanan County, Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province, resulting in seven people present at the scene. Three managed to escape, one sustained injuries, and three lost their lives. The county propaganda department stated that the collapse of this gymnasium was related to snowfall.
Concerning the recent collapse of the Baicheng ice rink roof, netizens have sparked various discussions:
– “It seems there was no rain, no snow, and no construction materials piled on the roof. Let’s wait to hear the official explanation.”
– “Collapsing within just five years; responsibility lies with the construction and design. Fortunately, no casualties occurred.”
– “Quality control of steel bars, welding, and design flaws are all crucial factors leading to collapses! Conduct a thorough investigation of construction units, their qualifications, subcontracting issues, etc.”