What materials were illegally stacked on the school roof?

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Perlite Was Illegally Stacked on the School Gymnasium Roof

Authorities have stated that the illegal stacking of materials on the roof of the No. 34 Middle School gymnasium in Qiqihar city, Heilongjiang province, is the likely cause of its collapse. A preliminary investigation indicated that construction workers had placed perlite, a mineral known for its high water content, on the gymnasium's roof during the construction of an adjacent teaching building.
Perlite's Properties and Placement

Perlite is a naturally occurring siliceous volcanic rock that expands significantly when heated. Its porous structure allows it to absorb substantial amounts of water. Construction workers involved in building a teaching facility next to the gymnasium reportedly stacked this perlite onto the gymnasium's roof without authorisation.
Impact of Persistent Rainfall

The region experienced persistent heavy rains over the weekend preceding the collapse. This prolonged rainfall led to the perlite material absorbing a significant amount of water. The increased weight from the saturated perlite placed an excessive burden on the gymnasium's concrete roof structure.
Sequence of Events Leading to Collapse

The accumulation of water within the perlite material drastically increased its mass. This added weight ultimately exceeded the structural integrity of the gymnasium roof, leading to its catastrophic cave-in on Sunday afternoon. The collapse occurred while a female volleyball team was reportedly training inside the facility.

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What materials were illegally stacked on the school roof?

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