The deafening noise, similar to that of “an explosion”, resounded Sunday evening around 8 p.m. Seven balconies of the same building collapsed simultaneously in Antibes, reports the local press. Miraculously, no injuries were reported.
The balcony located on the seventh and last floor would have collapsed first, causing a cascading collapse, according to BFM Nice Côte d’Azur. In total, 39 residents had to be evacuated to spend the night in a community hall. Eight of them were rehoused by the town hall, specifies nice morning.
Other risks of collapse?
“We have major water damage. We have been warning the trustee for years,” lamented a resident to the regional daily, while the causes of the disaster remain unknown.
“Until the engineer assures us that the building is safe, no one will return to it,” he told Nice morning Marika Roman, deputy mayor of Antibes responsible for civil security. On the other side of the building, seven balconies still threaten to collapse. A danger order was issued for the entire residence that same evening.