Accident investigators said that the two-story building that collapsed in the downtown neighborhood of Bab Sharif on Sunday, resulting in no casualties but damaging three cars parked nearby, disintegrated due to disrepair.

Civil Defense officials said no one was killed or injured when the antiquated building collapsed at noon, but that the rubble, which spread nine meters across the road, damaged three cars parked close to the building.

“Thorough search operations, which were launched with the help of electronic devices and thermal cameras during the removal of the debris, did not indicate the presence of anyone trapped under the rubble of the two-story building, which spans 446 sqm, 90 of which had crashed to the ground,” said Col. Saeed Sarhan, Civil Defense spokesman.

The debris was removed by 11 p.m.

He said many rescuers and heavy equipment were sent to the accident site when the report of the accident was received. “All roads passing through the area were sealed off. An area for triage was set up in collaboration with Health Affairs and the Red Crescent,” he said.

Investigations revealed that repair works were underway when the building collapsed. Investigation into the incident is ongoing.

The rescue operation was undertaken by Maj. Gen. Jamil Al-Arbaeen, Civil Defense director in Makkah, Brig. Salem Al-Matrafi, Civil Defense director in Jeddah, and Col. Ghazi Al-Ghamdi, operations director.