Construction vehicles accompanied by tanker trucks spraying water dismantle villas in Xi’an, Northwest China’s Shaanxi province. The local government said the villas had been built illegally and had caused damage to the environment. On Thursday, more than 100 vehicles were deployed to demolish the 45 homes in the complex, called Qunxian Villa. The complex was one of 15 that the Xi’an government has condemned. Photo: VCG

The demolition work thunders on. Photo: VCG

A construction vehicle tears into a home. Photo: VCG

A villa in another development in Xi’an called Walk in the Clouds is demolished on Monday. More than 20 buildings of the complex, built between 2004 and 2014, have been condemned, according to the local government. Photo: VCG

Crews demolish several homes at the same time at the Walk in the Clouds development on Monday. Photo: VCG

Building wreckage covers the ground at the Walk in the Clouds development on Monday. Photo: VCG