Search attempts throughout the night for survivors after a residential building collapsed in the southern Russian city of Astrakhan have revealed only one cat, emergencies officials said on Thursday.
Four people, including one child, were injured in the collapse and the whereabouts of five other residents have yet to be determined. On Wednesday, emergencies officials were still searching for seven people who were unaccounted for.
Twenty-six flats were buried under rubble on Wednesday when part of the five-story building collapsed, the Investigation Committee said on its website yesterday.
"Rescuers only found a cat during the night searches," a local emergencies official said.
"Rescue workers from [nearby regions] Dagestan and Stavropol joined other rescuers in Astrakhan and the wreckage was being cleared quickly," the official said.
The collapse occurred at about 10:25 a.m. (06:25 GMT). The building belonged to a local factory and was used to house workers and their families.
Regional emergencies officials cited the poor condition of the building, constructed in the 1970s, as a possible cause of the collapse. Investigators are also considering negligence during reconstruction work.
sections: Accidents |
Russian News
[View all comments]
[Print]
