Advertisement
A six-storey building in central Madrid collapsed while being converted into a hotel, resulting in four fatalities, including three construction workers from Ecuador, Mali, and Guinea-Conakry, and the project architect. Their remains were recovered nearly 15 hours later, while three others were injured. Built in 1965 and marked "unfavourable" in past inspections, the structure retained its facade. Owned by Saudi-based fund RSR and developed by Rehbilita, the renovation was approved in late 2024 with a two-year timeline. Rescue teams deployed drones and sniffer dogs during the operation.
Emergency services in Madrid recovered the bodies of four individuals from the rubble of a six-storey building that collapsed while undergoing refurbishment into a hotel in central Madrid. The city's mayor, Jose Luis Almeida, expressed sorrow over the incident, confirming that firefighters had recovered the remains of those who went missing after the structural failure. Advertisement
The victims comprised three male construction workers aged between 30 and 50, from Ecuador, Mali, and Guinea-Conakry, and a 30-year-old woman who was the architect overseeing the renovation. Their remains were discovered almost 15 hours after the collapse of the building's interior, which left the facade largely intact. The rescue operation involved police and firefighters using drones, sniffer dogs, and specialized search techniques. Three other construction workers sustained injuries during the accident.
One worker, Mikhail, who was pumping concrete on the lower floors at the time, was outside when the collapse occurred. He recalled a sudden large cloud of dust and immediately ran to safety, prioritizing his life while hoping to help others if possible.
Madrid's online registry of buildings under construction indicates that the property was originally built in 1965 and had undergone technical inspections in 2012 and 2022. Both inspections classified the building's condition as "unfavourable" due to concerns over the facade, exterior walls, partitions, roof, terraces, and plumbing and sewage systems.
The building, situated in a busy downtown area popular with tourists near the opera house and the royal palace, was being converted into a four-star hotel by developer Rehbilita. The property belongs to Saudi-based real estate fund RSR, which invests in high-end hotels and tourist apartments across Spain and Portugal. RSR acquired the building for 24.5 million euros (USD 28.5 million) in 2022. The renovation, approved by municipal authorities in December 2024, was expected to take two years.
The collapse has prompted renewed scrutiny of safety measures in older structures undergoing renovation, especially in busy urban areas. Emergency teams continue to emphasise the importance of careful planning, monitoring, and risk mitigation on construction sites to prevent such incidents in the future.
Source Reuters
5th Jun, 2025
25th May, 2023
11th May, 2023
27th Apr, 2023
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
