At least three fatalities due to collapsing construction scaffolding in Switzerland
The accident on the outskirts of Lausanne occurred around 9.30 am during construction expansion of a shopping mall. Witnesses reported to Keystone-SDA news agency that a hoist had collapsed and the entire scaffolding on the north side of the building had been carried away. It was "knocked down like a house of cards."
Four of the survivors sustained serious injuries. In addition, "one or two people are missing," said police spokesperson Jean-Christophe Sauterel to AFP news agency in the afternoon. The cause of the accident is still unclear. The scaffolding was collapsed along the entire length of the building - "but we don't know the cause." The prosecutor's office has launched investigations.
An AFP journalist saw at the scene of the incident, how firefighters climbed into a jumble of interlocked metal parts at the foot of the building, while others worked on stabilizing the remaining parts of the scaffolding. The police stated that the weather conditions complicated the work.
The accident took place in Lausanne, at least in the outskirts of the city. The collapse involved construction equipment, specifically a hoist and the scaffolding on the north side of the shopping mall expansion site. Despite the efforts of the police and rescue services, there have been misfortunes, with some missing individuals and several people sustaining serious injuries. The construction site, unfortunately, features baskets and other materials that have become entangled in the mess caused by the collapse.
