From Beijing Youth Daily

Authorities in Chuzhou, East China's Anhui Province have taken disciplinary actions following the large-scale detachment of roof tiles from the Drum Tower in Fengyang county on Monday. The deputy county head, who bears leadership responsibility, has been suspended for investigation, while the director of the county's culture and tourism bureau and chairman of Fengyang Daming Tourism Development (Group) Co, Ltd have been removed from their posts, according to a statement released by the joint investigation team on Friday.

The incident involved the Drum Tower, a traditional-style building reconstructed in 1995 and most recently renovated in 2024, the statement said. After he tile collapse, the Chuzhou city government established a joint investigation team, which comprises of disciplinary inspectors, housing and urban development officials, cultural and tourism authorities, and industry experts. The team has launched a comprehensive probe into the incident, said the statement.

Further investigations into responsible units and individuals are ongoing, with additional disciplinary measures to follow in accordance with laws and regulations, said the statement.

A portion of tiles from the eastern side of the Drum Tower's rooftop detached and fell at around 6:30 pm on Monday, and no injuries were reported, said the Culture and Tourism Bureau of Fengyang County in a previous statement on Tuesday. The statement followed several viral videos online showing a large number of roof tiles falling from the top of the tower, which had completed maintenance just a year earlier.

Global Times