Four dead and 27 injured after ‘restaurant collapses’ on Majorca beach
Four people have died after a restaurant collapsed in Majorca, with over 20 more left injured.
Of the 27 people injured when the ceiling caved in at the popular establishment, four of them are said to be in a “serious condition”.
Authorities fear that many more may be trapped beneath the rubble, after the first floor of the restaurant on Playa de Palma fell through.
“The number of dead now stands at four and the number of injured at 27 and there may still be more people trapped under rubble,” a police source said.
The incident reportedly happened at about 8.30pm local time (7.30pm BST) at the Medusa Beach Club.
One of the victims has been named locally as Abdoulaye Diop, a Senegalese migrant who worked as a doorman in the area.
The Majorca Daily Bulletin said that he had received praise in December 2017 when he saved someone from drowning.
Approximately 100 emergency responders have been called to the scene.
No cause has been given for the collapse of the building.
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A spokesman for a regional emergency coordination centre earlier said: “We can confirm two people have died in the collapse of the building in Playa de Palma.
“We can also confirm 12 to 14 people have suffered injuries of differing degrees. Psychologists have been activated.”
The regional emergency response coordination centre added: “We have activated an emergency response as a result of the collapse of the ceiling of a two-storey building in Avenida Cartago in Playa de Palma, where people are trapped. Firefighters and local police are at the scene.”
The mayor of Palma, Jaime Martinez, was also reported to have arrived at the restaurant.
The street outside the Medusa Beach Club has been shut off so emergency personnel can attend to the scene.
Police have cautioned that the death toll is likely to rise and local reports also indicate that two tourists are also among the dead.
A local court has sent a forensic expert to the scene.
Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, said he was monitoring the situation closely and his government would be ready to deploy “all the means and personnel that are necessary”.
He added: “I want to send my condolences to to the families of the deceased and my wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured.”
A witness called Raul told local outlet CadenaSER: “Everything fell, completely. It was very loud and there were a lot of people inside.
“A very loud sound was heard. There were people eating, people upstairs… the top floor fell.”