A 4-year-old boy in Shanghai has died after falling into a manhole.

Tong Tong’s mother weeps after  Photo: Sina.cn.

On August 4, the boy—who was only identified in local media as Tong Tong—was playing near a manhole on Nanwenzao Road in Baoshan District, Shanghai.

Residents said they could see the very bottom of the manhole, which was only occasionally covered with a sheet. Photo: Sina.cn.

Tong Tong then fell into the manhole. He was rescued and rushed to the hospital but died as a result of his injuries.

Residents look at the manhole which has now been covered with a barricade. Photo: Sina.cn.

Local residents said the manhole on Nanwenzao Road was often uncovered and occasionally covered with a sheet.

Two resident sit behind the police lines blocking the manhole. Photo: Sina.cn.

After the incident, fences and warning signs were placed around the manhole.

This is just one of many manhole incidents that have occurred in China in the last few years. In June an elderly woman was rescued by passersby after falling into a manhole in Guangxi. In December 2014 a toddler was rescued by firemen after falling down a manhole in Shandong Province.

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Vicky Wong

Vicky is a British-born Chinese journalist with three years of experience covering UK politics. She previously worked for PoliticsHome and has interned at Sky News and CNN International. She also co-produced and filmed a documentary about the Hong Kong protests for MSNBC, which won the grand student prize at the 2015 Human Rights Press Awards. She has a BA in Politics and International Relations from the University of Reading and moved to Hong Kong in 2014 to complete a journalism masters at the University of Hong Kong.