Collapse of a building in Marseille : fears for victims and fire difficult to control

"We must prepare to have victims in this terrible tragedy", declared Sunday the mayor of Marseille, Benoît Payan, after the collapse of a four-storey building.

1. An ongoing fire among the rubble

A fire in the rubble "is still in progress and it is extremely difficult to control", added Benoît Payan. "The firefighters are judging minute by minute the best way to put out this fire because there are potentially people alive inside," said the mayor.

2. Search for possible survivors

Since the collapse of this building, at 17 rue Tivoli, in the central district of La Plaine, probably after an explosion, around 00:40 a.m., the fire has prevented firefighters and dogs from searching the rubble in search of possible survivors.

3. Neighboring buildings in danger

A race against time is also engaged in a neighboring building, at number 15, partially damaged, and "which threatens to collapse", like number 19, according to the mayor.

4. Care of evacuees

In these neighboring buildings, 33 people were "hit" but only five were injured and are in relative emergency. The evacuees are cared for in schools and crèches.

5. Investigation and visit of the Minister of the Interior

An investigation is opened to determine the causes of the disaster. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin will be there in the morning.

Collapse of a building in Marseille: fears for victims and fire difficult to control

“We have to prepare for victims in this terrible tragedy,” said the mayor of Marseille, Benoît Payan, on Sunday after the collapse of a four-storey building.

A fire in progress among the rubble

 

A fire in the rubble "is still in progress and it is extremely difficult to control", added Benoît Payan. "The firefighters are judging minute by minute the best way to put out this fire because there are potentially people alive inside," said the mayor.

 

Since the collapse of this building, at 17 rue Tivoli, in the central district of La Plaine, probably after an explosion, around 00:40 a.m., the fire has prevented firefighters and dogs from searching the rubble in search of possible survivors.

 

A race against time is also engaged in a neighboring building, at number 15, partially damaged, and "which threatens to collapse", like number 19, according to the mayor.

 

In these neighboring buildings, 33 people were "hit" but only five were injured and are in relative emergency. The evacuees are cared for in schools and crèches.

Inquiry and visit by the Minister of the Interior

 

An investigation is opened to determine the causes of the disaster. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin will be there in the morning.

Collapse of a building in Marseille: fears for victims and fire difficult to control

“We have to prepare for victims in this terrible tragedy,” said the mayor of Marseille, Benoît Payan, on Sunday after the collapse of a four-storey building.

A fire in progress among the rubble

 

A fire in the rubble "is still in progress and it is extremely difficult to control", added Benoît Payan. "The firefighters are judging minute by minute the best way to put out this fire because there are potentially people alive inside," said the mayor.

Search for possible survivors

 

Since the collapse of this building, at 17 rue Tivoli, in the central district of La Plaine, probably after an explosion, around 00:40 a.m., the fire has prevented firefighters and dogs from searching the rubble in search of possible survivors.

Neighboring buildings in danger

 

A race against time is also engaged in a neighboring building, at number 15, partially damaged, and "which threatens to collapse", like number 19, according to the mayor.

Care of evacuees

 

In these neighboring buildings, 33 people were "hit" but only five were injured and are in relative emergency. The evacuees are cared for in schools and crèches.

Inquiry and visit by the Minister of the Interior

 

An investigation is opened to determine the causes of the disaster. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin will be there in the morning.