Tirana - Albanian rescuers recovered three bodies from the rubble of a collapsed building Monday, as meanwhile police took nine people into custody in connection with the accident.

A 12-year-old girl, her mother aged 38 and an elderly woman, 65, were killed Sunday afternoon when their five-storey building collapsed in Gjirokaster in southern Albania.

Though all of the tenants were accounted for, firefighters continued sifting through the wreckage. Reports said 20 people were injured.

Police were holding nine people with possible links to the accident, including municipal officials in charge of issuing construction permits or inspections and employees of the company that built the house. (dpa)