A young woman fell to her death after jumping from the top floor of Fudan University's foreign students dormitory building yesterday morning, university officials revealed.

Witnesses said the woman, in her 20s, jumped from the top floor's elevator corridor and fell on the north side of the 23-story building at about 7 am.

She landed on the path leading to the building. An ambulance arrived about half an hour later.

The woman was confirmed dead, and a hearse took her body away at noon, according to a security guard at Fudan, who refused to be identified.

So far details about the victim are sketchy, with the only confirmed fact being that she was an Asian. No further evidence to show her nationality or identity or even if she was a university student was forthcoming.

University officials believe it to be a case of suicide but remained tight-lipped otherwise.

The foreign students dorm building, located at the intersection of Wudong and Wuchuan roads in northeast Yangpu District, is the only dormitory for overseas students at Fudan.

At present, more than 700 overseas students from all over the world live in the foreign students dorm building, including undergraduates to PhDs.

Only students who live there are allowed to enter the building after showing their room card or registering at the building's reception, according to a security guard.

It was business as usual at the blue building just hours after the sorry spectacle, he added.

The Yangpu District Public Security Bureau said it was too early to say if the incident was a suicide, adding that investigations were ongoing.

(eastday.com September 9, 2003)