Four people are said to have managed to escape from the building and four are said to have been dug out alive from the rubble during an extensive rescue effort, according to local media.
The gymnasium belonged to a school in the city of Qiqihar in the province of Heilongjiang in the northeastern parts of the country.
The incident is being investigated. Initially, the investigation showed that building materials were placed on the roof, according to New China. The material is said to have expanded due to heavy rains, which is then believed to have caused the landslide. Those responsible at the construction company whose personnel placed the material there have been arrested.