Four dead and 16 injured in Majorca building collapse
Four people have died and 16 others are injured following the collapse of a two-story building on the Spanish island of Majorca, according to local emergency services.
The incident occurred at the Medusa Beach Club, a beachfront restaurant on Cartago Street in Palma de Majorca, the regional capital. Several people are believed to be trapped in the rubble.
The collapse happened around 20:30 local time (19:30 BST) on Thursday night. Emergency services reported finalising rescue operations and securing the area shortly after midnight local time.
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The floor of the establishment gave way on Thursday evening, causing patrons and staff to fall into the basement below, which was also occupied at the time.
A firefighter described the scene as “nightmarish” to the local newspaper Ultima Hora, noting that when his team arrived, people were crying and screaming amid the debris.
Palma Fire Chief Eder García informed local media that most of the victims were foreigners and tourists, as reported by El Pais.
The UK foreign office declined to say whether any British nationals were affected by the collapse, with a spokesperson telling the BBC: “We are aware of an incident in Palma, and there are currently no reports of British nationals having been involved. We remain in contact with the Spanish authorities.”
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.
