A hotel being used to house people in coronavirus quarantine has collapsed in China, killing four people and trapping dozens more.

It happened in the city of Quanzhou, in southeastern Fujian Province, the city government said on its website. So far, at least 47 people have been rescued, according to state media outlet People's Daily.

The South China Morning Post reported that the five-storey Xinjia Express Hotel collapsed just after 7pm local time (11am UK time).

Image: Several people have been rescued already. Pic: Weibo/Emergency Management Department

Image: About 70 people were trapped. Pic: Weibo/Emergency Management Department

It quoted sources that said it was one of two quarantine hotels in the city's Licheng district, for people who have had close contact with those who have tested positive for coronavirus, or the disease that causes its symptoms COVID-19.

It opened in June 2018.


Image: The collapse happened in the city of Quanzhou. Pic: Weibo/Emergency Management Department

Fujian has been relatively lightly hit in comparison with some Chinese provinces, such as Hubei, the epicentre of the outbreak.

So far, according to official figures, there have been 296 confirmed cases in Fujian, compared with a total of 80,651 across the whole of China and 3,070 deaths.

Image: Authorities posted photos of the rescue operation. Pic: Weibo/Emergency Management Department

Image: The hotel opened in June 2018. Pic: Weibo/Emergency Management Department

Quanzhou is Fujian's largest city with a population of more than eight million.

On Saturday, China's government said it had recorded 99 new cases of coronavirus, its first daily increase of less than 100 since January 20. The government also reported 28 new deaths.

The country's clampdown on movement to control the virus has brought a shock to the economy. China reported exports had shrunk by nearly a fifth year-on-year for the first two months of 2020.