Halt demanded to construction of illegal basements

Beijing has called for the illegal construction of basements to be stopped after such work caused neighboring houses and part of the road surface to collapse in the city, forcing 15 people to be evacuated.

A government office that oversees construction work in Beijing said in a statement on Sunday that the municipal government will fill in basements or holes caused by illegal construction work.

It will do so when property owners refuse to restore homes to their original condition within three days of being ordered to do so.