The two workers trapped in the collapse of a three-storey building in Longgang District in south China's Guangdong Province at midday on Wednesday were found dead, according to rescuers.

Nine workers were refurbishing a building in Shenzhen when, at about 11:30 a.m., the building caved in. Five workers managed to escape.

Rescuers earlier pulled out two workers, who suffered bruising.

The bodies of the remaining two were recovered at 6:05 p.m.

The retail building was old and set to be demolished to make way for a new metro line, district police said.

Local residents said the owner of the property had hired people to carry out work on the building in order to gain more compensation from the local government for its demolition.

Preliminary investigations show the collapse occurred because workers damaged the structure of the building during the refurbishment, according to police.

(Xinhua News Agency November 29, 2007)