A rescue operation continues in South Africa after a five-story building under construction collapsed, killing four people and leaving at least 50 trapped.
Authorities in the town of George, Western Cape province, say 24 people were pulled from the wreckage and taken to hospital.
A team of 75 people was at the scene when the building collapsed on Monday.
The cause of the incident in the coastal city is being investigated.
The building collapsed at 2:09 pm local time (12:09 GMT), Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said.
“Seventy-five construction crew members were confirmed to be on site at the time of the incident,” he added.
Emergency services were seen rushing to the scene to search for survivors in the town 450 km (279 miles) east of Cape Town.
Two of the 22 people pulled from the wreckage died from their injuries. Two more deaths were later reported.
“Our thoughts are with the families and all those affected who continue to await news of their loved ones,” said Mayor George Ald Van Wyk.
More than 100 rescue teams with sniffer dogs worked through the night to locate those trapped in the building. Heavy lifting equipment is being used to assist the operation.
Authorities said they were able to establish contact with some of those under the rubble.
Photos have emerged showing a construction site completely flattened, with parts of the building’s roof lying in the rubble.
“I saw a guy working and then ‘boom’ and I saw the whole building collapse… I’m also traumatized. It’s very sad,” said local councilor Theresa Jeyi, quoted by Reuters news agency.
