Chinese officials say 53 people have been confirmed dead after last week's building collapse in the province of Hunan.

Officials in the city of Changsha told reporters on Friday that 10 survivors had been rescued from the rubble.

More than 60 people had been listed as missing after the eight-story building, which housed a hotel and restaurants, suddenly gave way on April 29.

Changsha's Communist Party chief said the accident has caused enormous damage and loss of life. She said there are serious lessons to be learned, and offered sincere condolences to all the victims.

Extra floors are believed to have been added to the structure illegally. Local police have arrested nine people, including the building's owner.

Collapses of unlawfully built buildings are not uncommon in China. Following the latest disaster, President Xi Jinping issued instructions to prevent the occurrence of serious accidents.

The Chinese government is expected to step up its crackdown on illegal construction. A special team is currently investigating the cause of the tragedy in Changsha.