Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has sent a search-and-rescue team to Ghana after a shopping centre collapsed in Accra on Wednesday.

The team of doctors, engineers and communication experts left Israel Wednesday evening, only hours after the multi-story building collapsed, trapping many people inside.

According to media reports, four people were found dead with dozens still possibly lying under the rubble.

Yonatan Yagodovsky, director of the Magen David Adom international department said: “We are in touch with the local red cross and the Israeli ministry. We are waiting for the first team to evaluate the needs there and to give us additional information about the situation. We are ready to send a team with medical personnel and equipment in a few hours as soon as we hear from them.”