Buildings collapse in Rio historic center

RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Three buildings in the historic center of Rio de Janeiro collapsed, causing several injuries and possibly deaths, officials said Thursday.

Unconfirmed reports indicated two people died in the collapse Wednesday, Euronews reported Thursday.

The BBC reported crews thought 11 people were inside and have rescued five.

Officials said two taller buildings fell on a smaller building under construction. None of the structures was residential, officials said.

The cause of the collapse wasn't immediately known, but some witnesses said they heard and an explosion and smelled gas, the BBC reported.

The BBC said rescue workers freed one person from an elevator in the rubble after he call a friend on his cell phone.

Rio de Janeiro will host soccer's World Cup in 2014 and the Summer Olympics in 2016.