The accident happened in Jiangdong district of Ningbo City around noon, when a six-story building collapsed after residents in the building found cracks and reported the situation to the community, according to local residents and municipal firefighters.
A woman was pulled out of the debris around 4:50 p.m. but died later in a local hospital after rescue efforts failed, sources with the hospital said.
Rescuers are trying to retrieve another woman found still alive. Rescuers said their efforts had been hampered as the woman, who was living on the second floor, was buried somewhere deep in the debris.
It was believed that only two people were buried in the debris as community workers had persuaded others in the building to move out after receiving reports of cracks in the building early Sunday morning.
The building was constructed in 1989, housing 18 families.
An investigation into the accident is under way.
Residential building collapses in E China's Ningbo