UPDATE: Another person rescued from ruins of collapsed residential building in Batumi
Rescuers currently are searching for about 10 people trapped under the ruins of the building on May 26 Street in Batumi. Photo: Batumelebi.ge.
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Updated at 22:57
A man has been rescued from the ruins of a multi-block residential building which has collapsed today around 12 p.m. in the Black Sea coastal city of Batumi. The man was taken to the hospital. Earlier a woman was also rescued, whose two children arestill missing.
Earleir at 20:45
A woman has been rescued from the ruins of a multi-block residential building which has collapsed today around 12 p.m. in the Black Sea coastal city of Batumi.
The woman is taken to the hospital by an ambulance while rescuers continue working to rescue her two children.
Rescuers currently are searching for about 10 people trapped under the ruins of the building on May 26 Street in Batumi.
They have been working on the spot for more than eight hours and have saved two children, including one newborn earlier today.
Ongoing #search & #rescue operations on #26MayStreet in #Batumi. According to the Minister of Internal Affairs, 10-15 people are #trapped in the ruins #buildingcollapse #ნგრევაბათუმში
— ბათუმელები • Batumelebi.ge (@Batumelebi_ge) October 8, 2021
➡️ https://t.co/H5i7klR2ha pic.twitter.com/KlvcE2tjeR
The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has launched an investigation to find out the cause of the incident.
The incident is being investigated under Article 240 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which stipulates breach of safety regulations during the construction of other works,” the MIA reported.
The Interior Ministry has stated that two people trapped under the ruins are able to communicate through their mobile phones.
Some witnesses said the collapse occurred after an explosion, while some local residents said it might have been caused by ongoing repair works on the building's second floor.
The acting mayor of Batumi Lela Surmanidze stated that about 15 families were living on five floors of the building
The five-storey residential building was built about 50 years ago where two floors were built additionally few years ago.