At 9:30 pm on March 9, the Quanzhou city emergency rescue working group held a press conference to report the progress of rescue efforts at site of the Xinjia Hotel collapse, which occurred in Licheng district on March 7.

As of 11:30 pm on March 9, officials said 55 people had been pulled out of the debris of the hotel, of whom 16 were dead.

At the time of the collapse, a total of 71 people were trapped. Rescue workers are searching for another 16 people who remain missing.

In accordance with the principle of saving people first and conducting a professional rescue, seven heavy rescue teams, six light rescue teams and 43 emergency rescue vehicles -- such as cranes, excavators and 37 electric power communications support vehicles -- were deployed at the rescue scene.

More than 1,000 firemen, armed police, medics and logistical support staff launched a comprehensive search and rescue. All rescuers must wear masks, goggles and gloves to ensure that the rescue work is scientific, standardized, safe and efficient, officials said.

In addition, a medical emergency station and temporary rescue point were set up to provide medical security services -- such as hygiene, epidemic prevention and disinfection of the rescue site.

Officials said that Quanzhou First Hospital, Fujian Medical University 2nd Affiliated Hospital, No 910 Hospital of the PLA Joint Logistic Support Force and Quanzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine have opened fast track channels for the treatment of the injured.

In addition, aftercare teams at the city, district and sub-district levels are providing peer-to-peer services, organizing communications, accommodation and psychological counseling.

Responding to the accident, a total of more than 1,000 volunteers have helped with voluntary work such as catering, sanitary cleaning and personnel guidance.