Two dead in Tel Aviv building collapse, many trapped

Two persons were killed and around 20 others were injured in a building collapse in Israel’s commercial capital Tel Aviv killed on Monday, officials said, adding that efforts were being made to rescue several people believed trapped in the rubble.

Police earlier said at least seven people were trapped in the collapse at an underground car park at a construction site, but it was unclear if some had since been rescued. Police confirmed two persons were killed and medics reported four or five persons were believed to be trapped at the site of the multi-floor car park, filled with twisted metal, dirt and rubble.

Surveillance video at the time of the collapse showed the area quickly enveloped by thick clouds of dirt and rubble.

Medics could be seen walking across rubble as they carried a wounded person on a stretcher. Other medics with stretchers as well as ambulances waited on standby. Sniffer dogs were also at the scene.

While contact had been made with some of those trapped, leading to their rescue, the seven earlier reported missing by police had not been contacted. The army said it sent search and rescue forces to “extract civilians”.

“It is about four to five stories down under the surface,” Avi Marcus, a medic with United Hatzalah rescue service who arrived on the scene shortly after the collapse, said.

“It was only construction workers. There weren’t any other people. I provided medical care to some of the injured people ... They say some movement shook the building,” he said.