At least 15 people were killed in a three-story building collapsed on Sunday in Bamako and over 40 people have been rescued, local authorities said.

"As of 8 p.m. (2000 GMT) Sunday ... 41 people were rescued, with 15 dead, (and) an investigation into the owner (of the building) has been opened," the country's Ministry of Internal Security and Civil Protection tweeted.

The three-story building under construction collapsed at about 4 a.m. local time Sunday (0400 GMT). Search and rescue operations were continuing.

Local media reported that the top floor fell onto the rest of the building, which led to the entire structure "collapsing like a house of cards."

Building collapses like this are common in Mali due to construction occurring without permission.

Xinhua