apartment building collapse siberia
One of the entrance halls has collapsed in a five-story apartment block in Mezhdurechensk, a city in Kemerovo Oblast, Russia.

At least one person has died and three have been injured in the collapse, RIA quoted a source in the Emergency Situations Ministry as saying.

"Four people have been affected, one of them died. Those who are injured are in a moderate condition," the source told RIA.


At least one person is thought to be trapped under the rubble of the building, a spokesperson for the rescue team told RIA.

Another rescue team source cited by the agency has placed the number of those trapped at up to 10.

At least 175 rescuers, using 39 units of equipment, are removing debris from the collapsed structure.


Sixty more rescuers are preparing to fly to Mezhdurechensk, according to the Siberian regional center of Russia's Emergency Ministry. A helicopter carrying specialists with dogs trained to search for people under rubble is expected to arrive at the scene, TASS reported.

The building's residents have been evacuated.

At least eight apartments have been affected, TASS said citing its source, who added that 15 people are registered as living in these flats.

Ninety people in total are registered as residents of the house, the source said. They are now being relocated to a nearby health resort. Psychologists are working with them.


There is so far no danger of further collapse of the building, a rescue service official told Rossiya 24 television. Parts of the house with separate entrances near the collapsed section have not been affected, he said, adding that rescue teams still have "to work very carefully."

The cause of the collapse is currently under investigation.

One possible reason for the collapse could be construction work in a ground floor shop in the building, during which the construction workers possibly pulled down a load-bearing wall, TASS said.

The workers have been reportedly detained, and a criminal investigation has been launched into alleged violations of safety rules during the construction.