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Fatal building collapse in Beirut Fatal building collapse in Beirut
(40 minutes later)
Rescue workers in Beirut, Lebanon, continue to search for survivors in the rubble of a collapsed building. Rescue workers in Lebanon continue to search for survivors in the rubble of a collapsed building.
The five-floor block collapsed in the Ashrafiyeh district of the Lebanese capital on Sunday evening, killing at least 13 people and injuring 12. The five-storey block collapsed in the Ashrafiyeh district of Beirut on Sunday evening. Thirteen bodies have been recovered, and 12 people are known to be injured.
The head of Lebanon's civil defence told AFP that he believed there were a further 20 victims under the rubble.
It is not yet known what caused the sudden collapse.
Local reports are speculating that cracks in the building made worse by heavy rain may have been the cause, or that the building could have been damaged by the impact of construction at several nearby sites.
'Extremely run-down'
According to local television, seven of the dead were foreign labourers, including two from Jordan. People from Egypt, Sudan and the Philippines and a Lebanese girl are also reported to be among the victims.
"We are hoping to find people alive. There are still some missing," Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil told Lebanese television."We are hoping to find people alive. There are still some missing," Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil told Lebanese television.
It is not known yet what caused the sudden collapse. One witness told a local television channel that "it was like an earthquake" when the block collapsed.
Local reports are speculating that cracks in the building made worse by heavy rain may have been the cause or that the building could have been damaged by the impact of construction at several nearby sites. A resident who escaped with her mother said the building was extremely run-down and the owner had recently warned tenants to move out, the AFP news agency reported.
Local television said seven of the dead were foreign labourers, including two from Jordan.
"It was like an earthquake" when the block collapsed, one witness told a local television channel.
One resident who escaped with her mother said the building was extremely run-down and the owner had recently warned tenants to move out, the AFP news agency reported.
Lebanese President Michel Sleiman visited the site on Sunday evening as did Interior Minister Marwan Charbel.Lebanese President Michel Sleiman visited the site on Sunday evening as did Interior Minister Marwan Charbel.
Mr Charbel told reporters the building's owner was being questioned by the authorities. He added it was essential to carry out a survey of similar buildings across the country, many of which were built illegally or had several floors added without proper permits. Mr Charbel told reporters the building's owner was being questioned by the authorities.
He added it was essential to carry out a survey of similar buildings across the country, many of which were built illegally or had several floors added without proper permits.