By Aliia Raimbekova

ASTANA, Kazakhstan

At least nine people died after a five-story building partially collapsed late Sunday in the Karaganda region of Kazakhstan, the country’s Interior Ministry has said.

Nine bodies, including those of three children, were recovered from the rubble in Shahan village, the ministry said.

Four people were pulled from of the remains of the building, according to Kazinform, a Kazakhstan news agency.

Kazinform also reported rescue efforts were underway. It added about 70 people are still working at the site.

Nurmukhambet Abdibekov, governor of Karaganda, told reporters that a boiler explosion caused the collapse.