Tragedy in Spain. At least four people died and twenty-seven were injured in the collapse of a restaurant terrace in the tourist resort of Playa de Palma, Palma de Mallorca. According to the emergency services, the collapse occurred around 8.30pm in a building at number 36 of Calle Cartago, in the Medusa Beach Club restaurant where, for reasons still under investigation, the terrace of the two-level restaurant collapsed, in that moment crowded with customers.
The breakdown
It would have been the neighbors who alerted the police and the civil guard.
On site, a two-storey building, emergency fire brigade teams are rescuing people trapped in the rubble. All available ambulances in Palma have been moved to via Cartago, where activity is currently at its maximum. Some neighbors explained that they heard a loud noise and then screams. According to the testimonies of inhabitants in the area, reported by local media, the collapse was preceded by a dull noise, followed by the cries of the injured people under the rubble. Raúl Pursnami, owner of a fashion shop next to the bar-restaurant, said he heard a very loud noise. «I was leaving the club and everything collapsed very quickly. There were people eating and people dancing upstairs,” he said. The mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez and the first deputy mayor, Javier Bonet, are already in via Cartago and are speaking with the commanders of the Local Police to clarify the circumstances of the tragedy.
The local
The Medusa Beach Club is a well-known restaurant with musical shows on the seafront of Playa de Palma, very popular with tourists. It is located on two levels, the ground floor and a terrace on the first floor, which according to initial information collapsed, causing the place to sink. At first it was believed that the roof of the building had collapsed. At least four of the injured are said to be in serious condition, according to 112 emergencies. The Court of Palma has sent a forensic doctor who is proceeding with the identification of the victims.
The Farnesina verifies Italian involvement
According to what we understand, the Farnesina is verifying whether there are Italians involved in the collapse of Mallorca, even if at the moment they are not identified.
The research
A man, perhaps the manager of the restaurant, who was trapped between two large slabs under the building, was rescued by the local police: he only suffered injuries to his arm. To verify whether there are actually other people left under the rubble, the police are asking all those surrounding the building, located on the seafront, in an area very popular with tourists, to remain silent.
The victims
One of the victims in the collapse of the Medusa Beach Club has been identified as Abdulaye Diop, the young Senegalese “hero” who in December 2017, together with his friend Oumar M’bengue, did not hesitate to throw himself into the sea to save a swimmer on the verge of drowning , off the Playa de Palma. At the time Abdulaye and Oumar worked as doormen at the Black Magic nightclub, one of the busiest in the tourist resort of Palma de Mallorca. Thanks to the young Senegalese’s quick wit, the man in difficulty was brought safely to shore. “It was two degrees and the water was freezing, but when you see a person in danger of dying, you don’t think twice and run to save their life,” Abdulaye declared to local TV and media at the time. Unfortunately this evening she was the first of the victims to be identified.
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