Rescue operations are complicated by a reported fire in the rubble and extensive rubble.
Research is underway, Sunday April 9, to find possible victims, after the collapse of a four-storey apartment building in the center of Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône), on the night of Saturday to Sunday . The incident left at least five injured in neighboring buildings, according to a provisional report. “We must prepare to have victims in this terrible tragedy”, said the city’s mayor, Benoît Payan.
The five injured in the neighboring buildings are in relative emergency. A total of 33 people were “affected” in the neighborhood. The evacuees are cared for in schools and crèches.
Significant resources deployed
“This night at 00:40 a building at 17 rue de Tivoli collapsed, dragging down part of the (buildings) at 15 and 19 rue de Tivoli”, specified the mayor of Marseille. Part of the building at 15 rue de Tivoli, located in the 5th arrondissement, collapsed again at 7:30 a.m. without causing any injuries, according to the firefighters.
“There are strong suspicions that an explosion caused the collapse, but we must remain very careful about the causes at this stage”indicated the prefect of the Bouches-du-Rhône region, Christophe Mirmand, specifying that the gas could be “a possible option”.
Relief operations are complicated by “a fire in the rubble of the 17th, (which) prevents sending the dogs and the teams in search of the possible victims who would be under the rubble”, specified the mayor of Marseille. But these continue with significant resources deployed. The firefighters could not immediately establish a census of the people who could have been present in the collapsed building, whose rubble obstructs the street.
An investigation is opened to determine the causes of the accident. The mayor and the prefect seemed to dismiss an unhealthiness of the building in a district rather known for its restaurants, bars and its nightlife. “There was no danger decree for this building and it is not a district listed as having unsanitary housing”, said the prefect.