Rescuers in Argentina were trying to reach people trapped under the rubble after a hotel collapsed, and one person was confirmed dead.
The 10-storey Dubrovnik hotel, in the coastal town of Villa Gesell, collapsed early on Tuesday, with the site describing the incident as “something out of a horror film”.
About 15 people are believed to have been inside the hotel, which was recently renovated.
Rescue teams were working at the scene trying to free those believed to be trapped. The body of a man in his 80s was found in the rubble, while one woman has so far been rescued.
The local authorities said that the construction work at the hotel was stopped in August by order of the municipality, because the renovation was carried out without the proper permits.
However, the neighbors told reporters that the construction work of the building continues in violation of the stop order.
Monica Mino, who lives near the hotel, said the building “turned into a cloud of dust and we couldn't see anything”.
“We felt like an earthquake … this was terrible. It's like a horror movie we're living,” he told Reuters.
Argentina's Minister of National Security, Patricia Bullrich, posted on X that two special teams were sent to the scene, located in the province of Buenos Aires.
He said there were structural engineers, rescue experts and a dog team trained in collapsed buildings, as well as workers equipped with special equipment and rescue equipment.
The Minister of Security in the province, Javier Alonso, told the local radio that four builders who were working in the area escaped when the collapse occurred, and were arrested by the police.
Alonso added that neighbors told him that renovations were probably going on in the basement of the hotel and that the building collapsed on its own.
Photos from the scene show widespread damage to surrounding buildings from the fallen debris.
Villa Gesell is a popular seaside resort with several hotels, resorts and beaches.
Dubrovnik is located next to other hotels on Avenue 1 and is a five-minute walk from the beach.
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