An “extremely violent” explosion was heard around one o’clock in the morning on Sunday, a few seconds before the collapse of the building located at 17 rue de Tivoli. The building next door collapsed later that day.
Delicate rescue operations, which will last several days. The firefighters were still hard at work on the evening of Monday April 10. They are trying to find any survivors after the explosion which blew up a four-storey apartment building overnight from Saturday to Sunday and then caused the collapse of a neighboring building in the center of Marseille (Bouches-du -Rhone). According to the latest report dating from Monday evening, six bodies were discovered in the rubble. The search continues, while at least two people remain missing. Franceinfo takes stock of what we know about the disaster.
An explosion then a collapse
It is 12:46 a.m. Sunday when an explosion “extremely violent”, according to the public prosecutor of Marseille Dominique Laurens, filmed by surveillance cameras, takes place at 17 rue de Tivoli, in an area known for its cafes, restaurants and nightlife. A minute later, the building suddenly collapses.
In its fall, the four-storey building, located in a residential area on the edge of the La Plaine district, carries “a part of (buildings of) 15 and 19 rue de Tivoli”, said the mayor of Marseille in the night. A few hours later, in the early morning, the building at 15 rue de Tivoli also collapsed. The Marseille prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation for “involuntary injuries”.
Six bodies found in the rubble
“Two lifeless bodies” were found in the rubble, firefighters announced overnight from Sunday to Monday, of the eight people missing. A third body was extracted from the rubble on Monday morning, according to the prosecution. The firefighters then discovered a fourth body at midday, then a fifth and a sixth in the evening. So far, none of these bodies have been identified.
“In the building (du 17 rue de Tivoli)we have more people of a certain age and a young couple”, explained Dominique Laurens, the public prosecutor of Marseille. According to “elements (…) transmitted by relatives and families”there is “no children among the victims”she added.
In addition, a person residing in a neighboring building, whose relatives had no news, “appeared” Monday morning, the prosecution said. According to the latest report, two people are still missing. Finally, five people, residents of the neighboring buildings of 17, were injured, but “none is between life and death”said Sunday the Minister of the Interior.
The research “will last several days”
Until mid-afternoon on Sunday, the searches, in particular the dog teams and their dogs, were impossible because of a major fire still in progress under the rubble. They were finally able to start at the end of the afternoon. THE “operations will last several days”said the commander of the rescue operations carried out by the battalion of marine firefighters from Marseille to France 3.
“All night, the firefighters, the firefighters of Marseille continued the heavy and difficult work of searching for possible victims still alive, and today again, we will continue this work constantly and tirelessly”, explained Monday morning the mayor of MarseilleBenoît Payan, during a press briefing. “More than a hundred firefighters are on site”according to the elected socialist. “The surrounding buildings are becoming more and more fragile. There are fumaroles, the fire is not completely extinguished. It is a long and tedious job”. According to him, “There is still hope” to find survivors.
A building that was not unsanitary
For now, “it is not yet possible” to determine the causes of the disaster, assured the public prosecutor of Marseille, Dominique Laurens. An explosion “extremely violent” due to gas “is part of the tracks, but as it is, we cannot say”she pointed out.
However, one hypothesis seems to be ruled out: that of the unsanitary condition of the building. “These buildings are not targeted by danger orders, they are not unsanitary so we are looking for the causes of this explosion”she continued, thus confirming the information communicated by thee mayor, the prefect and the Minister of the Interior earlier in the day.
>> Collapsed buildings in Marseille: “We are not at all in the situation of rue d’Aubagne”, confirms Samia Ghali, deputy mayor of Marseille
Some 200 people evacuated
In all, 33 buildings were evacuated and 200 residents were taken care of overnight from Saturday to Sunday, said Mayor Benoît Payan on BFMTV. Among them, “150 people have found the means to relocate with families or friends”. In addition, 50 people requested emergency rehousing.
An emergency number (04 91 55 11 11) has been set up “for those directly concerned” by these collapses. A family reception center was also opened at 110 boulevard de la Liberation, in the 4th arrondissement.
