At least 13 people were killed and dozens others were injured after a part of a power plant under construction in Ecuador collapsed, authorities said on Sunday.

The collapse took place at the site of Ecuador's largest-ever infrastructure project deep in the Amazon.

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China's embassy in Quito reported that three Chinese workers and 10 Ecuador citizens were killed over the weekend at the project site of the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric power plant.

Chinese contractor Sinohydro is the lead builder of the US$2 billion power plant that is expected to generate 1,500-megawatts of electricity .

The embassy announced in a statement posted on its website that the accident was caused by a "collapse in a pressure well" that was part of the power plant under construction. The statement added that two of the injured workers were in serious condition.

Ecuador President Rafael Correa earlier sent out a tweet offering condolences to people who knew the workers. "Our hearts go out to their families and co-workers," the tweet said.

Sinohydro has taken emergency steps to fix the collapse and the company is holding an internal investigation, the embassy said.

The embassy also asked Chinese companies to reflect on the deadly mishap, learn its painful lesson, take the proper measures, and improve safety to better protect workers from China and Ecuador.

Environmentalists has criticized the plant because it is being built on a large rainforest straddling the Andes and the Amazon.

TagsEcuador, power