BEIJING: A wall collapse triggered by heavy rains at a recycling plant killed 18 people and injured three others early Sunday in the eastern city of Qingdao, state media reported.

According to Qingdao government's information office, the collapse crushed a house for workers in which 40 people were gathered.

Authorities were investigating the cause of the wall collapse.

The eastern coastal region has been drenched by heavy rainfall in recent days.