Status: 04/10/2023 9:49 p.m
The collapsed house in Marseille killed at least six people. The rescue workers continue to hope to find the last survivors under the rubble. However, the search is difficult.
More than a day after a building collapsed in downtown Marseille, firefighters continue to search for people buried in the rubble. “As long as there is hope of finding people alive, we will not stop,” said Marseille Mayor Benoît Payan in the morning. Rescue workers conducted a “surgically precise” operation at the scene to “protect any survivors at all costs”.
The chief of the Marseille fire brigade, Lionel Mathieu, confirmed the statements made by the mayor. “There is hope that people are still alive,” he said. The rescue work was difficult for a day and a half because a fire broke out several meters below the rubble after the collapse.
In order not to endanger those who were buried, the fire brigade could not extinguish the classic way with foam and water. In addition, the smell of burning and the heat also made it difficult to use rescue dogs. The fire has been largely under control since the afternoon.
More bodies found
Meanwhile, rescue workers found more dead under the rubble. The number of victims thus rises to six. Originally, all eight residents were missing since the collapse. At times it was also feared that a man from an adjacent house could also be under the rubble. In the meantime, however, he has reported to his relatives, according to the public prosecutor.
Massive damage also to adjacent buildings
A four-storey house on Rue Tivoli in Marseille’s fifth arrondissement collapsed on Sunday night. Parts of the two neighboring houses also collapsed. The reason for the collapse was probably an explosion.
At least five people from neighboring buildings were injured in the accident. More than 30 houses were evacuated as a precaution.