Majorca building collapses: 4 dead, 16 injured, rescue workers say

Four people have died and 16 have been injured after a two-storey building collapsed on the Spanish island of Majorca, local emergency services said.

Many are believed to be trapped at Medusa Beach Club, a beach restaurant on Cartago Street in the regional capital Palma de Majorca.

The incident reportedly took place at around 20:30 local time (19:30 BST) on Thursday night. Many people are feared trapped in the debris.

Emergency services told local media that they had completed rescue operations after midnight local time and were securing the area.

Officials added that psychologists would be called to the scene to help those affected by the incident.

On Thursday evening, the floor of the establishment collapsed, causing people to fall to the basement below, where there were customers and employees.

A firefighter told local newspaper Ultima Hora that the scene was “brutal”. He said when his team arrived, they were standing around the rubble piled on the ground and crying.

Most of the victims of the wreckage were foreigners and tourists, Palma fire chief Eder García told local media.

The UK Foreign Office declined to say whether any British nationals were affected by the wreckage, with a spokesman telling the BBC: “We are aware of an incident in Palma and there are currently no reports of British nationals being involved. We are continuing to liaise with the Spanish authorities.”

A local police spokesman told reporters that the collapse may have been caused by heavy weight placed on the balcony, but stressed that the exact cause was still being investigated.

One person was rescued from the wreckage with a broken arm, and rescue efforts are on as more people are believed to be trapped. Officials asked onlookers to remain quiet so the voices of survivors could be heard.

Palma’s mayor, Jaime Martínez, reportedly went to the scene with the vice mayor for tourism.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez offered his condolences to the families of the victims.

He said that he was closely monitoring all the latest developments and his government was ready to send all necessary assistance.

The president of the Balearic Islands, Marka Prohens, said she was shocked by the incident and offered her condolences to the families of the victims.

Ms Brohens thanked the emergency services, and Mr Sanchez for his support.

Majorca is the largest of Spain’s Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea.

Last year, more than 17 million people visited the island.