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![Illegal construction of a basement in Beijing causes the collapse of four neighboring homes. [Photo: Xinhua/Cankaoxiaoxi]](http://www.bazhesc.com/2015/0129/201512992615.jpg "Illegal construction of a basement in Beijing causes the collapse of four neighboring homes. [Photo: Xinhua/Cankaoxiaoxi]")
A building collapse in downtown Beijing on Saturday was caused by unauthorized construction work on a property belonging to a lawmaker from Xuzhou City in Jiangsu, sources said on Wednesday.
The Beijing planning commission said Li Baojun had built a basement about 18 meters deep in his Beijing courtyard without first obtaining a construction permit, which caved in and caused the road and surrounding buildings to collapse.
People living near Li's residence said they had reported the building work to the relevant authorities but officials had seemed powerless to stop the Xuzhou lawmaker .
The 15 residents of the four collapsed houses are currently staying in hotels.
Li is also the president of a company in Xuzhou, said sources who declined to be named.
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