At least two people were injured when a four-story building in Marseille, a port city in southern France, collapsed, but officials said a fire prevented rescue workers from finding additional potential victims.
Mayor Benoit Payan told reporters that the building in Marseille’s La Plaine district collapsed at 12:40 a.m, causing damage to two adjacent structures.
The rubble of Building 17 is currently the scene of a fire. Due to the fire, we are unable to send teams or dogs to search for victims hidden beneath the debris.
Payan also stated that two injuries occurred among the 11 individuals who were evacuated from the two collapse-damaged neighboring buildings.
An AFP photographer stated that numerous emergency personnel were present at the scene, and the streets surrounding the building were cordoned off and choked with dust.
According to reports, there were “strong suspicions” that the collapse was caused by an explosion, possibly a gas leak.
“In any case, we should remain exceptionally wary about the causes at this stage,” he said.
An examination has been opened to find the reason for the breakdown, authorities said.
According to the marine firefighters’ commander, there were one hundred firefighters present.
He stated, “The priority is to put out the fire and clear the debris to find people who might be under it.”
According to Mirmand, other buildings on the street were evacuated as a precaution, and residents sought refuge at a school.
Gilles, who lives on a side street near the collapsed structure, stated that the crash’s “immensity” of sound was heard.
Gilles, who declined to provide his last name, stated, “It sounded like an explosion.”
In November of 2018, two dilapidated buildings in the working-class neighborhood of Noailles caved in, killing eight people and causing another significant structural collapse in Marseille.
