Majorca - Operator of collapsed Ballermann restaurant arrested
The operator of a restaurant at Ballermann in Mallorca, which was opened about a good month ago, has been arrested. The man has been charged with reckless homicide in four cases and reckless grievous bodily harm in six cases, according to the Spanish National Police. At the incident on the Spanish Mediterranean island, four people had lost their lives in the evening of May 23rd, among them two German tourists. One of the women is from Saarland. In addition, there were numerous injured.
During the investigations, it was found that the local did not have a business license for the installed balcony terrace, according to the police statement. An excessive load of this illegally built and classified as non-traversable structure caused the collapse.
Palma's mayor Jaime Martínez had previously announced that the use of the first floor of the Medusa Beach Club was illegal. "We assume that at the time of the accident, there were 21 people on the first floor," the mayor had explained at the end of May. At the accident, the first floor collapsed to the basement.
Twelve Dutch guests of the local are said to have moved tables to the terrace and set them up before the accident, according to the authorities. Mayor Martínez announced in the summer that there would be stricter controls at Playa de Palma.
- Jaime Martínez, the mayor of Palma, had previously flagged illegal activities at the Medusa Beach Club, but the arrest of the restaurant operator at Ballermann came after a devastating accident involving four fatalities, six cases of reckless grievous bodily harm, and numerous injuries among tourists, including a woman from Saarland in Germany.
- The incident on the Spanish Mediterranean island of Majorca, which took place on the evening of May 23rd, pointed to possible negligence by the restaurant operator, leading to the arrest and charges of reckless homicide against him by the Spanish National Police.
- The collapse of the illegally built and non-traversable balcony terrace of the restaurant, discovered during investigations, was caused by the terrace's excessive load, raising questions about the local's diligence in obtaining necessary permits for the establishment and the safety of tourism venues.
- With stricter controls in place at Playa de Palma for the summer season announced by Mayor Martínez, the arrest and charges of the Ballermann restaurant operator may serve as a wake-up call for illegal establishments and the need for justice following accidents in Spain's popular tourism destination.
- Despite the tragedy, tourism in Majorca and Ballermann continues to be a significant contributor to Spain's economy, making it essential to elevate safety standards and ensure that vacationers can enjoy their experiences without putting their lives at risk.
