Moment baby is pulled alive in a miracle rescue from collapsed five-storey block of flats after explosion in Georgia
A crowd erupted in cheers as a baby was pulled out alive from the carnage of a collapsed five storey block of flats after an explosion in Georgia in a miracle rescue.
A gas explosion is believed to have destroyed part of the residential building in the city of Batumi, a resort on the Black Sea, on Friday.
Video footage shows a group of people - including firefighters and local residents - crowding around part of the collapsed building
The crowd are then seen lifting up what appears to be a slab of concrete before a baby, wrapped in a blanket, is pulled out of the gap and passed to a firefighter.
In an emotional scene, the crowd began cheering and clapping as they saw the baby was alive, with one man putting his arms on his head in disbelief.
A crowd erupted in cheers as a baby (left) was pulled alive in a miracle rescue from the carnage of a collapsed five storey block of flats after an explosion in Georgia
Video footage shows a group of people - including firefighters and local residents - crowding around part of the collapsed building. The crowd are then seen lifting up what appears to be a slab of concrete (left) before a baby, wrapped in a blanket, (right) is pulled out of the gap and passed to a firefighter
Footage showed one section of the building reduced to a pile of rubble and rescue workers going through the debris and using a ladder to evacuate nearby apartmentsMeanwhile, a six-year-old child was rescued from a car parked near the collapsed building which has been hit by a huge concrete slab.
An elderly woman was also saved from the higher floor of the apartment block. Several cars could be seen nearby, almost completely covered by debris.
Footage showed one section of the building reduced to a pile of rubble and rescue workers going through the debris and using a ladder to evacuate nearby apartments. It was unclear if any residents were killed in the horror.
Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili arrived at the site of the collapse and said 300 rescuers are searching for between 10 to 15 people in the ruins, reports local Georgian news site Agenda.ge.
He said: 'We should wait for the results of the investigation and, first of all, we should pray for these people to survive.' 
An elderly woman was also saved from the higher floor of the apartment block. Several cars could be seen nearby, almost completely covered by debris
The five-floor building was built in Soviet times but two more storeys were added several years ago, according to locals. There are a total of 12 apartments in the collapsed part of the buildingOne man who was trapped underneath the rubble spoke to rescue workers on the phone and told them he believed he had a broken leg, reports Radio Free Europe.
Another man's voice could also be heard from underneath the debris shouting: 'I can breathe'.
Hundreds of people remained outside the site after the residents of the building were evacuated, despite rescuers telling them to leave due to safety concerns.
The five-floor building was built in Soviet times but two more storeys were added several years ago, according to locals. There are a total of 12 apartments in the collapsed part of the building.
No comments: