JEDDAH, May 1 (Arab News): At least two children died and as many as 24 people, most of them also thought to be children, were trapped when a three-story building collapsed in Jeddah early Friday evening.

Two children were seen escaping from the ruins of the building, located on the Old Makkah Road in Al-Sahifah district near Bab Makkah. Two women and a child were rescued by Civil Defense workers. All were taken to hospital.

There was confusion as to how many others remained inside and whether there were any more survivors. Local residents said that at least three families lived in the building, all of them Somalis, and that each family had at least six children.

Seven Civil Defense teams were called to the scene shortly after Maghreb prayers, according to Col. Abdullah Al-Amri, the Civil Defense spokesman.

They had to work amid chaotic scenes, using probes to check for signs of life under the rubble. Old Makkah Road, a major Jeddah thoroughfare, was closed to traffic but it did not stop massive crowds of onlookers gathering to watch. Surrounding neighboring buildings were evacuated.