Ten-story hotel collapses in Argentina, several people trapped under the rubble

villa gesell, argentina - A ten-story hotel building collapsed early Tuesday in the coastal city of Villa Gesell in the Argentine province of Buenos Aires. Local authorities stated that several people are trapped under the rubble.

Rescue teams are currently clearing the debris to free the victims.

At the time of the collapse, between seven and nine people were reportedly inside, including workers from a construction site at the Dubrovnik hotel who were allegedly working without municipal permits, according to the statement.

'At this moment, although exact details about the collapse are not possible, it can be confirmed that the structure in the collapsed part would have been illegally and unlawfully renovated,' added the municipality. The local government had already halted construction work at the site in August of this year.