Building Collapse In Marseille Results in Five Injuries
A minimum of five individuals from nearby buildings were hurt after a four-story residential building in Marseille collapsed on Sunday, but rescuers were unable to find any victims because of a fire, according to officials.
According to Marseille mayor Benoit Payan, the building in the port city in southern France collapsed around 12:40 am (2240 GMT), causing some of the two adjacent buildings to sustain damage.
He claimed that the fire in the rubble was “ongoing” but that five people had already been hurt from two homes close to the collapsed structure in the central La Plaine region.
“(The fire) is very challenging to contain… Because there may be individuals inside, the firefighters are determining how they’ll put out the flames minute by minute, Payan said, “In this terrible tragedy, we must be ready to have victims.”
Dust and barricades surrounded the area of the demolished structure. Firefighters could be seen making their way through the wreckage of the building.
According to Lionel Mathieu, commander of the Marseille maritime firemen, “we are trying to speed up the (search and rescue operations) because time is of the essence,” but search dogs can’t keep up in the heat.
The number of residents in the demolished building is still unknown, according to the authorities.
However, emergency personnel are working against the clock to evacuate nearby structures that are also in danger of collapsing.
The mayor stated, “At this time, we are demolish the buildings next door, taking care not to endanger the people who might be under the rubble.”
Similar to an Explosion
More than 30 people lived in the nearby buildings and were “affected,” while five people suffered injuries. All refugees were taking refuge in classrooms and nurseries at the time.
According to the regional prefect Christophe Mirmand, there are “strong doubts” that the fall was caused by an explosion, likely a gas leak.
Everything shook, according to a street food vendor operating late at night, during what appeared to be an explosion.
The man who hesitated to give his maiden name, Aziz, stated, “We saw people running and there was smoke everywhere.”
The sound of the crash, according to Gilles, who lives on a side street next to the demolished building, “was huge.”
Gilles, who likewise chose not to give his last name, remarked, “It sounded like an explosion.
In November 2018, two decaying buildings in the working-class neighborhood of Noailles caved in, killing eight people. This was another significant structural collapse.
The incident brought the city’s housing standards to light.
Authorities, however, seemed to rule out structural problems in the most recent collapse, which occurred in a district famed for its bars and nightlife.
According to Mirmand, “There was no danger code for this building, and it is not in a neighborhood known for having substandard housing.”
