Youthful Germans among the casualties in Mallorca's crash
At night in Palma de Mallorca, a building in the tourist district suddenly collapses, entombing many. The morning after, it becomes evident that two young German tourists aged 20 and 30 are among the four individuals who perished.
Moreover, a 23-year-old Spanish woman and a 44-year-old man from Senegal were killed in this unfortunate incident on Thursday evening. The authorities of Palma have shared this information. In addition to the fatalities, 16 people required medical attention. The injured were rushed to hospitals, as per the authorities on the famous Mediterranean island that attracts lots of German vacationers. Among the injured, seven individuals were in grave condition, while the remaining nine were seriously hurt but safe.
This incident sent shockwaves not only across the Balearic Islands, but the whole of Spain as well. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez sent his condolences to the family of the victims and insisted, "I'm closely observing the situation in Palma after this horrific occurrence."
This terrible event took place right on the beach, merely a few streets away from the popular Megapark and Bierkönig bars. The "Medusa Beach Club" building crumbled around 8:30 pm. According to witnesses, the first floor suddenly gave way, and this collapse occurred in the basement where several guests were enjoying their dinner. The initial investigation by fire chief García suggested that the overloading of the second floor could've caused the accident.
On Friday morning, emergency services were still trying to locate any more survivors under the debris. But halfway through the night, a police spokesperson announced with 90% certainty that there were no more victims beneath the rubble. However, they would continue with the rescue operation for as long as necessary. Marking "possibly'many more hours.'"
When the collapse happened, many visitors were having dinner in the restaurant, which also functioned as a cocktail bar with live music. Immediately after the accident, local emergency services, including the police, the fire department, and Majorcan emergency services were on-site. The nearby bars and residential buildings were evacuated due to the threat of collapse, and the area was cordoned off. Healthcare professionals and counselors were present to treat the slightly injured, frightened relatives of the casualties, and witnesses who experienced the tragedy.
Diario de Mallorca and Última Hora, local newspapers, revealed that around a thousand people had gathered by the site of the accident soon after it took place. Family members of the employees were anxious about their loved ones' well-being, and the crowd discussed the potential causes. The police repeatedly requested calm from the audience to help the rescue teams hear any cries of possible survivors beneath the wreckage.
The regional leaders, including the President of the Balearics, Marga Prohens, the Mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez, and the First Deputy Mayor, Javier Bonet, visited the site of the tragedy and witnessed the rescue efforts up close. Mayor Martínez announced three days of mourning. Since the beginning of the party season in early May, Playa de Palma has witnessed an influx of tourists, mainly from Germany - unlike the visitors to the English party mecca of Magaluf which lies to the west of Palma.
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Despite being an international tourist destination, Majorca experienced another tragic incident with the collapse of a building in Palma, leading to numerous casualties and injuries. Among the victims were two young German tourists, reminding the international community of the potential misfortunes that can occur even in popular vacation spots.
Source: www.ntv.de
