BEIJING (AP): Eight people died and 23 were injured after a mosque under construction collapsed in northwest China, the official Xinhua News Agency said Friday.

Investigators were looking into whether Thursday's accident in Xiajiuzhuang village in Qinghai province may have been caused by failed support beams. Among the victims was an 8-year-old boy who was playing in the construction site.

Seven died at the scene and one person who had been critically injured died in the hospital, Xinhua said, citing emergency officials.

The area where the village is located is populated mainly by Chinese Muslims who are members of the Hui ethnic group.

Construction had started in May last year and had almost been finished.