Marseille Building Collapse: 8 People Still Missing Feared To Be Trapped Under Rubble

Marseille Building Collapse: Almost eight people reportedly not responding to the calls and are thought to be under the rubble of the two buildings that collapsed in an explosion early Sunday in France, said local media reports. This incident took place in the southern French city of Marseille.

‘Reason is still unknown’

According to the Marseille prosecutor Dominique Laurens, the cause of the explosion was not yet known.

In a news conference, she said that the collapse caused a fire that has complicated rescue efforts and investigations, and it has not been brought under control.

Several television videos have showcased massive clouds of smoke rising from the rubble of the building collapsed as the firefighters tried to douse the fire. Also, trained dogs were used to locate the missing victims of the incident.

5 injured taken to the hospital

As per the media reports, the third building is partly collapsed. Almost five people were rushed to the hospital with serious, however, those injuries were not life-threatening.

Officials determined that at least four people lived in the building, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said. It was not known if anyone was killed in the collapse or explosion, or what triggered the blast, he said. Darmanin, who visited the site, provided the update nearly 11 hours after the five-story building collapsed before 1 a.m.

100 firefighters, robots deployed

More than 100 firefighters, aided by specialists, worked through the night to access and extinguish the fire, which the minister said was burning a few meters (feet) under the debris.

The delicate operation proceeded with the aim of keeping firefighters safe, preventing further harm to people potentially trapped in the rubble and not compromising vulnerable buildings nearby.

The minister also said that some 30 buildings in the area were evacuated.

The building that collapsed is located on a narrow street in the centre of Marseille, adding to an array of difficulties for firefighters and rescue workers. The intense heat made it impossible to send in dog teams to search. Robots were reportedly being deployed.

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French President & PM take to Twitter

French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne both tweeted their thoughts for people affected and thanks to the firefighters.

Marseille Mayor Benoit Payan said that two buildings that share walls with the one that collapsed were partially brought down before one later caved in. It was among the evacuated structures.

“We’re trying to drown the fire while preserving the lives of eventual victims under the rubble,” Lionel Mathieu, commander of the Marseille fire brigade, said during a televised briefing.

“Firefighters are gauging minute by minute the best way to put out the fire,” the mayor said. “We must prepare to have victims,” he said grimly.

An explosion was the “probable” cause of the building collapse, Payan said, but later stressed that “no conclusions can be drawn” without an investigation.