At least one killed in Hong Kong building collapse: police

(AFP) – 22 minutes ago

HONG KONG — One person was killed Friday when a rundown building collapsed in Hong Kong, while at least four others were missing and believed to be trapped in the rubble, government and emergency officials said.

The residential block, which was more than 50 years old, collapsed in Hung Hom, in Hong Kong's Kowloon district, police said.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang, who visited the site of the collapse, told reporters at least one person was confirmed dead.

A spokesman for the fire services said at the scene there were at least four people believed trapped.
"I saw bits and pieces of earth and tiles sliding down the wall at the beginning... a woman was trying to climb out through the window. About 15 seconds later, the building fell like dominoes," a passer-by told Cable TV.

Cable TV also broadcast footage of a large team of firemen rescuing trapped people from the rubble.

The broadcaster said renovation work was being carried out on the ground floor of the building, but that the cause of the collapse remained unclear.