First the cracks, then the huge sinkhole that caused one of the facades of the early 1900s Art Nouveau villa on Via de’ Fogliani to collapse to the ground, where renovation work had recently been underway. We are at the gates of the historic center of Modena, the area between the avenues and Buon Pastore. Shortly after midday, the Fire Department intervened after the workers at work in the house and the residents of the street who heard loud bangs, after the three-story tower tilted, leaning dangerously towards Via Barbieri, sparking panic. Fortunately, no one was injured, the building has been uninhabited for some time. As a precaution, 15 families had to leave their apartments in the two adjacent buildings. After the order arrived, demolition operations on the building began shortly after 6 p.m. At the moment, it is probable (although still to be ascertained) that the cause of the collapse could be traced back to a collapse of the floor. The work was immediately stopped, the area evacuated, the parked cars removed. On site, in addition to the firefighters, also the Local Police and the 118 health workers. Via De Fogliani remained closed to traffic throughout the afternoon. Bus routes were also diverted.
