Mumbai building collapse toll now 25

AP, AFP-JIJI

Authorities say 25 people have now been confirmed dead in a collapsed apartment building in India’s financial capital of Mumbai.

Rescuers working overnight Friday pulled more bodies from the rubble. National Disaster Response Force chief Alok Awasthi said 25 bodies had been found by Saturday morning.

The five-story building caved in early Friday morning, trapping dozens and necessitating an intense rescue mission. At least 32 trapped residents, including a small girl found nearly 12 hours into the search, have been rescued.

Five other residential blocks have collapsed in or close to Mumbai in recent months, including one in April that killed 74 people.

Three buildings caved in during the month of June alone, killing 25 people between them. The monsoon season’s heavy rains are thought to have exacerbated structural problems.

India’s high demand for housing, shoddy construction and lax inspections make such disasters relatively common.