India building collapse: 13 dead as search for survivors continues

At least 13 people people have been killed and several are still missing after a five-storey apartment building collapsed in western India on Monday.

Rescuers found 76 people alive including a four-year-old boy. At least six others are still feared trapped.

The building in the town of Mahad, about 170km (105 miles) from Mumbai, contained 47 flats, police said.

Building collapses are not uncommon in India, particularly during the heavy rains of the monsoon season.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was saddened by the building collapse, saying: "My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their dear ones."

Police said that the building collapsed "like a deck of cards" at 19:00 local time on Monday. Since then, rescuers have been working to recover those buried under the rubble.

A four-year-old boy whose cries were heard beneath the ruins of the building was among those rescued.

A four-year-old boy was among those to be pulled from the rubble

Officials said 18 people with serious injuries had been admitted to hospital.

Calling the incident tragic, Home Minister Amit Shah has directed the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to provide "all possible assistance".

Reports said the building was about 10 years old and home to about 200 people. The cause of its collapse has not yet been determined.

People living in the building said they rushed out when it started shaking.

A rescue operation has been going on for more than 24 hours

Eyewitnesses told the media that they were alarmed by the loud noise as the building collapsed. They ran towards it as smoke began to rise from the debris.

They said they could hear people trapped under the rubble screaming for help. So they alerted the fire brigade and began rescue efforts immediately.

The death toll in India from this year's monsoon rains is more than 800, according to the AFP news agency.