MUMBAI, India – At least 22 people were killed and nine others wounded when a seven-story building collapsed in Mumbai, officials said Thursday.

At least 10 others were feared trapped in the rubble of the residential building in Mumbai’s Borivali neighborhood, said Gopal Shetty, a state lawmaker. The building collapsed late Wednesday.

Rescue workers were sifting through the debris and cranes were removing large chunks of concrete.

“The priority is to rescue people who may be trapped inside,” Shetty said.

The building housed several stores and a clinic in addition to residences.

It was not immediately clear what caused the collapse.

Shetty said poor quality cement may have been used in the construction of the 20-year-old building.

However, J. Phatak, a senior city official, said residents reported extensive renovations to the building by a jewelry store on the ground floor of the building.

Building collapses are frequent in India _ where construction is often hastily done with little regard for safety regulations.

A service of the Associated Press(AP)