Toppling tenements! Terrified residents evacuated as foundations give way

Terrified residents were evacuated from a row of buildings in China after the foundations suddenly gave way - and the structures started to lean backwards.

Three 4-storey buildings in Ziyuan County, Guangxi province, were affected by the bizarre incident.

It’s unclear what caused their partial collapse.

But locals said they started “shifting without warning” and that “it happened so fast furniture was sent rolling against the walls.”

They ran out into the streets in a panic, reports local media.

“It was like being on a ship that was capsizing,” said elderly resident Song Cheng.

“We thought it was an earthquake, but when we got to the street there were only three buildings affected,” he added.

Fire crews sealed off the area and have condemned the properties.

They are now looking for ways to safely remove the private assets of the residents which are still inside the building.

No-one was harmed as the foundation sank into the earth.

But residents of adjacent buildings have also been warned they may be at risk as authorities plan a thorough investigation.

(All photographs credit to CEN)