Six individuals have been detained in connection with the partial collapse of an ice rink in Baicheng, Jilin Province, in Northeast China. The provincial authorities revealed the investigation’s findings on Friday, indicating that substandard construction quality was the cause of the incident. While six individuals have been taken into custody, others involved are still under investigation, according to a report by China Central Television on Saturday.
The investigation was presented during a provincial production safety meeting, which was led by Jilin’s governor, Hu Yuting. During the meeting, Governor Hu emphasized the importance of addressing major safety risks, learning from similar incidents elsewhere, and converting those lessons into preventive measures. He also called for a stronger sense of accountability and a deeper investigation into the root causes of such incidents. Additionally, he recommended regular and thorough professional inspections with a focus on key safety issues.
Governor Hu stressed the need to pay special attention to high-risk locations such as commercial establishments, large buildings, crowded areas, and self-built commercial structures. A comprehensive safety review should be conducted across the province to identify any design flaws, construction defects, and potential risks. He further noted that responsibilities must be clearly defined to prevent accidents caused by negligence.
With the year-end and early-year period typically seeing a rise in incidents, Hu emphasized that local authorities must remain vigilant, enhance risk assessments, and take measures to prevent major accidents. The collapse of the ice rink in Baicheng occurred early in the morning on November 18, and although no casualties were reported, preliminary investigations suggest the roof’s steel structure deformed, likely due to issues with construction quality.
