China lift drop kills at least 12

China has a poor work safety record

At least 12 people have died on a construction site after the lift they were travelling in plunged to the ground, state media reported.

The accident happened at a site in Xiapu county, in the eastern province of Fujian, the Xinhua news agency said.

The victims were found dead at the site at 0640 local time.

Correspondents say workplace accidents are common in China, where safety standards have failed to keep pace with economic growth.

Thousands of people die every year in mines and factories, and on construction sites.

On Tuesday, 11 construction workers were killed and 12 injured in the south-western city of Chongqing, when a crane container carrying them at a building site plunged to the ground.