The building, located at the corner of Nahalat Binyamin and Ahad Ha’am streets, was unoccupied during renovation work. According to initial reports, five construction workers managed to leave the structure before it collapsed.

Fire and Rescue Services, Magen David Adom, Israel Police and Home Front Command personnel were dispatched to the scene to search for anyone who might be trapped and to stabilize the section of the building still standing.

The collapse prompted road closures and the evacuation of residents from nearby buildings as a precaution.

The Labor Ministry said the construction site had not been reported to the ministry as required by law and that no site manager had been appointed. Inspectors issued a safety order shutting down the site, while the circumstances of the collapse are being investigated.

A preliminary report indicated that a failure during construction work may have caused the collapse.