A 10-story building housing the Dubrovnik Hotel collapsed early on October 29 in Villa Gesell, Buenos Aires Province. Rescue teams are currently on-site, as several people are feared to be trapped beneath the rubble.
According to the local council, the collapse occurred around 1:00 a.m. local time, reportedly while workers were undertaking construction without municipal permits. Municipal authorities had previously halted the hotel’s renovation project in August of this year.
At the time of the collapse, between seven and nine people, including workers, were believed to be inside the building. The search continues as emergency teams race against time to locate survivors, with authorities investigating potential breaches in safety regulations surrounding the unauthorized construction work.