A building collapse in the French city of Marseille has led to the tragic discovery of five bodies among the rubble. The incident occurred in the early hours of November 5, 2018, and has since left investigators and authorities searching for answers to what could have caused the fatal collapse. With heartbroken family members and a community in mourning, it’s important to understand the details surrounding this tragedy and the potential implications for future construction in the area. In this article, we’ll investigate the collapse and the aftermath, offering insight into the events leading up to the incident and the steps taken in its aftermath.
Five bodies have been discovered in the rubble of a four-storey residential building that collapsed from an explosion in Marseilles’ southern French city on Sunday, 31 October. The explosion caused a huge blast that brought down the building, which was home to residents, with dozens of rescue workers and dogs working among the debris and rubble as a fire still smouldered underneath.
Rescuers are continuing to search for at least three unaccounted individuals, and 40 buildings near the site have already been evacuated. The French housing minister, Olivier Klein, and Marseilles’ mayor, Benoît Payan, have both commented on the situation, with Klein stating that the discovery of the bodies was “gruesome, difficult and dramatic,” and Payan asserting that rescue workers remain optimistic that survivors will be found.
The work of the rescue workers is being hampered by a persistent fire beneath the rubble, which is making it difficult for them to deploy sniffer dogs to detect more victims or survivors. Moreover, the narrow street where the incident occurred is making the efforts more challenging.
The cause of the explosion has yet to be determined but “a suspicious smell of gas” was reported by several witnesses. Although the previous dilapidated building collapse that resulted in eight deaths in Marseille in 2018, shone a harsh light on the city’s housing standards, authorities have ruled out any structural problems in the latest collapse as the building was not in a neighbourhood identified as having substandard housing.
The rubble and remains from the building will need to be carefully preserved for police to carry out an investigation into what caused the blast. So far, 350 sq metres of rubble have been cleared by an excavator at the scene of the building collapse. Emergency workers are continuing with rescue operations, deploying a crane and lights to aid their search.
The discovery of the bodies is a tragic development in a disaster that has deeply affected France. The government has pledged its support for the victims, their families and those evacuated from their homes. This incident underlines the urgent need for safety measures to be put in place in all buildings across France, with particular emphasis on enforcing safety measures in residences located in areas known to be vulnerable to potential risks.
