Shanghai home owners demand refunds after apartment building collapse

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Play Video13-floor building collapses in Shanghai

SHANGHAI, June 28 (Xinhua) -- More than 200 home owners in Shanghai have demanded refunds or compensation after a 13-storey apartment building under construction toppled on Saturday.

The building in the "Lotus Riverside" compound of Minhang District collapsed entirely at about 6 a.m., killing one worker who had gone into the building to fetch his tools.

Local authorities in Minhang have pledged to safeguard the legitimate interests and rights of the owners, although detailed plans are yet to come out.

The developer, Shanghai Meidu Real Estate, has been banned to sell the housing following the collapse. It had sold out 489 of 629 homes.

Sources at the Information Office of the Minhang District government told Xinhua that 255 owners have applied to the government for refunds or compensation.

But some owners also worried that they could not buy the same apartment with the refunds because of the increases in housing prices.

The sources said the government has taken "appropriate control measures" against nine people from the developer, construction contractor and supervisor.

The authorities will also examine the structure and foundation of the building on Monday.

The 132 households evacuated shortly after the collapse returned to their village nearby at 7:30 p.m. Sunday after their homes were confirmed safe.