Dozens of people are reported to be trapped after a former agricultural exhibition center collapsed early on Wednesday in Leshan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Rescuers raced to the scene and quickly pulled out 30 survivors from the rubble, with no bodies found so far, the city's public security bureau reported.

Part of the former agriculture exhibition center in downtown Leshan collapsed at around 7:20 AM when at least 100 people, mostly elder citizens, were inside attending a lecture, witnesses revealed.

"My wife told me there was an accident, so I came out to have a look," said Li Xijian, who lives 50 meters from the site. "Nearly 1,000 people were watching and I couldn't get close to the site." He added that he saw people running away from the area, their clothes bathed in dust. I couldn't get through the crowd."

As police cordoned off the area, the exact number of casualties was so far unknown, according to Xu Tianyi, a publicity official with the city government.

Some people blamed the heavy rainfall over the past two days in Leshan for bringing down the two-storey building which, although largely unused, still proves popular with senior citizens who dance in its large halls.

(Xinhua News Agency June 6, 2007)