In brief
In Madrid, a devastating partial collapse of a six-storey building under refurbishment resulted in four deaths and several injuries. The victims include a Spanish project manager and three workers from Mali, Guinea, and Ecuador. Emergency services worked tirelessly to recover the bodies and assist those trapped. An investigation into the causes is currently being conducted.
Four people have died after a six-storey building which was being refurbished partially collapsed in the centre of the Spanish capital, Madrid.
The city's mayor, Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida, said the bodies of the last two of the people reported missing were recovered on Wednesday morning - some 15 hours after several floors at the property on Hileras Street collapsed.
Local media reported the victims were a 30-year-old Spanish woman managing the project and three male workers from Mali, Guinea, and Ecuador aged between 30 and 50. Three other individuals sustained injuries.
The former office block was in the process of being converted into a hotel, prompting an official investigation into the cause of the collapse.
Emergency services rushed to the scene with specialized teams using drones and sniffer dogs to search for anyone trapped amidst the rubble.
The recoveries of two other bodies were confirmed late Tuesday night, and all efforts were made to provide support to grieving families during this tragic period, as stated by Mayor Martinez-Almeida through social media.
A construction worker recalled the horrifying moment of the collapse while performing work outside, recounting seeing a cloud of dust and fleeing for safety.
Remarkably, despite the severe internal damage, the building's façade remained intact. The construction development company, Rehbilita, stated that the renovations aimed to transform the structure into a four-star hotel.
