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Death toll rises to nine in collapsed building in Jordan

Civil defence members search for survivors at the site of a four-storey residential building collapse in Amman, Jordan September 14, 2022. REUTERS/Muath Freij

Jordanian rescuers searched for a second day for remaining survivors under the rubble of a collapsed building in Amman where nine people were confirmed dead so far, officials said on Wednesday.

At least 25 people were in the dilapidated residential building in the Webdeh district of the Jordanian capital when it crumbled on Tuesday.

Civil defence rescuers worked through the night to remove collapsed concrete roofs and lift debris in a desperate search for survivors. About a dozen people had been evacuated so far, several with serious injuries, hospital sources said.

Rescuers work at the site of a collapsed building in Amman, Jordan September 15, 2022. REUTERS/Muath Freij

Earlier the government said they believed at least ten people were still under the rubble and some could be alive.

Civil Defence chief Hatem Jaber told reporters that search and rescue operations would continue until there was no hope of finding more survivors, adding that over 350 rescuers were involved, as well as drones and police dogs.

The latest survivor to be pulled out of the debris was a 5-month old baby who was in stable condition, a hospital source said.

Rescuers search for survivors under the rubble of a collapsed building in Amman, Jordan September 14, 2022. REUTERS/Alaa Al Sukhni

Prime Minister Bisher al Khasawneh ordered an investigation as officials blamed the building's state of disrepair.

The public prosecutor has opened a criminal case against a contractor who was drilling in the building in the days before its collapse and one of the owners of the building in connection with the incident, a judicial source said on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi;Editing by Josie Kao and Rosalba O'Brien)

Rescuers work at the site of a collapsed building in Amman, Jordan September 15, 2022. REUTERS/Muath Freij
Rescuers search for survivors under the rubble of a collapsed building in Amman, Jordan September 14, 2022. REUTERS/Muath Freij
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