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.
>> Follow live the latest information related to the collapse of a building in Marseille.
The five injured in the neighboring buildings are in relative emergency. About 80 people were evacuated and regrouped, said the commander of relief operations in the early morning. A fire is still in progress under the rubble, which “complicates the task of finding victims”according to the same source.
Significant resources deployed
“Last night at 00:40 a.m., the collapse of a building at 17 rue de Tivoli, dragging down part of the (buildings) at 15 and 19 rue de Tivoli,” said the mayor of Marseille overnight. A few hours later, in the early morning, thebuilding at 15 rue de Tivoli also collapsed.
“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”.
Significant resources deployed, with 100 firefighters mobilized, but the relief 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.
