Six people have died and one person is still missing after a massive landslide collapsed a car park onto some houses.
The deadly incident occurred at around 2am on Monday in Ankadifotsy Ambodivona, Madagascar.
Many of the homes were completely destroyed under the rubble, and it took rescue teams until the afternoon to get the six people out.
They are still working to find another person, suspected to be still trapped, according to Captain Ralimbison, a spokesperson for the local fire brigade.
The landslide completely folded the car park’s rubble masonry, bringing down eight cars including an Audi Q7 and a Toyota Fortuner.
Heavy rains and flooding have plagued Madagascar for a while now, and were responsible for the car park giving way yesterday.
The structure is said not to have showed any signs of damage before the collapse.
Colonel Tiana Razafimanahaka, head of the fire brigade, said: “The first call was recorded at our headquarters at 2am.
“About 20 minutes later our men began to work on the spot.”
He explained that three people were found alive and two children were found dead in one of the homes.
Next door, one was found alive with another five missing. The bodies of four of those five have now been found, with rescue teams still searching for the fifth.
Razafimanahaka added: “The rainy season is in full swing. I urge everyone to be careful. Dwellings at risk should be evacuated. In case of need for assistance, the firefighters as well as the civil protection corps (CPC) of the army remain reachable.”
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