At least 70 people could have been trapped in the collapse of a five-story building on Monday in Mahad, western India. Fifteen injured people were rescued and taken to hospital, local police said.
The building had 47 apartments. Help, including dog teams, were mobilized, said the Indian Disaster Response Force in a statement. In television footage, residents and police are seen looking for survivors in the rubble.
🇮🇳 India: A 5-story building collapsed in the city of Mahad south of Bombay. At least 70 people are believed to be trapped under the rubble. 15 people were rescued and injured are to be deplored pic.twitter.com/XYF8YWZEHP
- Alexandre (@alex_le_bars) August 24, 2020A "frightening situation"
The causes of the accident have not yet been established but building collapses are common in India during the monsoon. The torrential rains undermine the foundations of buildings and weaken them. The building was ten years old and had been erected on "weak" foundations, according to a former city deputy. "He collapsed like a house of cards," added the former elected. It is a frightening situation. "
The monsoon plays a major role in South Asia for agriculture. But it also causes many deaths and large-scale destruction, including flooding and building collapses. In 2020, the monsoon has already claimed the lives of some 1,200 people, including more than 800 in India.
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