BRUSSELS — At least one person died on Friday when a primary school under construction collapsed in the Belgian port city of Antwerp.

Ten other people were injured in the incident in the new district of Nieuw Zuid, including eight seriously. They were all believed to be construction workers.

Five more people were missing and a rescue operation was under way and was expected to continue into the night.

Sniffer dogs were being used to search the rubble. A dozen people had already been rescued, dpa reported.

Several people are being searched for under debris after a primary school under construction partly collapsed in Antwerp on Friday afternoon.

A dozen people have already been saved, however, several others are stuck under the rubble, resulting in the medical emergency plan being declared, the Antwerp Fire Brigade confirmed on Twitter

“Our colleagues have already freed around ten people. We are also in contact with some people under the rubble,” the fire brigade said.

“We strongly urge you to stay away from the area, including local residents. Please give us the space we need to work!” it added.

De Standaard has reported that at least 20 people were injured, according to the Antwerp police, of whom most of them are thought to be workers who were working in the building.

The Nieuw Zuid area in the city is temporarily closed to traffic, whilst rescue dog teams and a drone are at the scene to help with the search.

Part of the school building, which was under construction and was set to open on Sept. 1, as well as the scaffolding, collapsed.

Images shared by the Antwerp Fire Brigade show that the top floor of the new building has partly come down.

Shortly after the news was made public and confirmed by reliable sources, King Philippe had a phone call with the Mayor of Antwerp Bart de Wever.

The city has also asked residents of the area to keep their doors and windows closed to avoid the dust that may be lifted in the rescue process. — Agencies