Image source, AFP via Getty Images
- Author, Sofia Ferreira Santos
- Role, BBC News
- Reporting from London
-
Four people have died and 16 are injured after a two-storey building collapsed on the Spanish island of Majorca, local emergency services say.
Several people are believed to be trapped at the site of the Medusa Beach Club, a beachside restaurant on Cartago Street in the regional capital Palma de Majorca.
The incident reportedly happened at about 20:30 local time (19:30 BST). There are fears that a number of people maybe trapped in the wreckage.
Emergency services told local media that they were finalising rescue operations and securing the area shortly after midnight local time.
The floor of the establishment collapsed on Thursday evening, causing people to fall into the basement below, where there were also customers and staff.
Palma Fire Chief, Eder García, told local media that most of those affected by the collapse were foreigners and tourists, El Pais reported.
A spokesperson for the local police told reporters that the balcony may have collapsed due to excess weight being placed on it, but emphasised that the exact cause was still being investigated.
One man was pulled from the rubble with a broken arm, and the rescue services are working on the assumption that more people are trapped. Officials asked onlookers to remain silent in order to allow them to hear the voices of survivors.
The mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez, is said to have travelled to the scene with the deputy mayor of tourism.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez sent condolences to the victims’ families.
He said he was closely following all the latest developments, and his government was ready to send all the required assistance.
Image source, Getty Images
The president of the Balearic Islands, Marga Prohens, said she was shocked by the incident and sent her condolences to the victims’ families.
Ms Prohens thanked the emergency services, and also Mr Sánchez for his support.
Majorca is the largest of Spain’s Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean.
Last year, more than 17 million visited the island.
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David Turner is a globe-trotting journalist who brings a global perspective to our readers. With a commitment to shedding light on international events, he explores complex geopolitical issues, offering a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
