A building has collapsed during renovations in India's southern state of Kerala.

On Monday afternoon a section of the four story hotel came crashing down.

It's thought about 17 people are still trapped under the debris.

An eyewitness says at least four were seriously injured and taken to the hospital.

Renovation work was in progress in an older section of hotel building at the time.

The remaining section of the hotel seems to be on the verge of collapse as well.

A fire brigade rushed to the scene to help with rescue efforts and patrons at a nearby cinema were evacuated as a precaution.

No word on what caused the collapse.