Two dead and nine missing in Medellin building collapse

Originally Published October 14, 2013

Two bodies have been found in the wreckage left after a block of flats collapsed in Medellin, Colombia on Saturday evening, according to newspaper El Tiempo. Tower 6 of The Space condominiums started giving way Friday and officials evacuated families in the building.

Residents reported hearing a crashing noise, which came from building columns that had buckled and collapsed, on Friday morning. Dozens of families left the tower and people in neighbouring buildings also fled.

Two companies, CDO Constructora and Ingemed, sent a teams of workers to assess and repair the damage; they were in the tower when it collapsed at around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, according to El Tiempo.

Eleven people were initially reported missing until two were discovered among the rubble. According to a report by El Universal, one body was found somewhere between the third and fourth floors of the building, and the other in the basement. The names of the victims have not yet been released.

The search for the nine other continues. According to the BBC, around 60 people with sniffer dogs have been searching the site, but heavy rain and fears of another collapse have hampered the effort.

The Space flats were new, finished earlier this year, and were located opposite the Intercontinental Hotel. Prices for properties in the complex ran from $100,000 and $265,000. Local authorities have launched an inquiry into the cause of the collapse and according to the BBC, CDO Constructora said a flaw had been found in a concrete column.

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