Eighteen people died after a temporary structure on a construction site collapsed after being hit by a crane on Wednesday morning in Dongguan, South China's Guangdong province.

A total of 51 were injured, and 18 were in hospital where four people are in critical condition. The rescue was completed at 6 pm.

Altogether, 139 were in the structure when the accident took place. Out of the 139 workers, a total of 88 managed to escape the structure on time.

Local officials said the accident occurred at around 5:40 a.m. in Mayong Township, and an area of about 200 square meters was covered by the collapsed structure, which workers appear to have been using as a dormitory.

An initial investigation showed the crane was blown over in a gale.