Building collapse in Mallorca: 4 dead, 16 injured, rescuers say

A two-storey building collapsed on the Spanish island of Mallorca, killing four people and injuring 16, local emergency authorities said.

Several people are believed to be trapped on the grounds of Medusa Beach Club, a seaside restaurant on Calle Cartago in the regional capital, Palma de Mallorca.

The accident was reported to have happened at around 20:30 local time (19:30 BST). Several people are feared to be trapped in the wreckage.

Rescue services told local media they had ended rescue operations just after midnight local time and had made the scene safe.

The floor of the store collapsed on Thursday evening, causing people to fall into the basement, where customers and staff were also present.

Palma fire chief Eder Garcia told local media that most of those affected by the collapse were foreigners and tourists, according to El Pais newspaper.

A local police spokesman told reporters that excessive weight on the balcony may have caused the collapse, but stressed that the exact cause was still under investigation.

One man with a broken arm was pulled from the rubble but rescuers were still searching for others who they believed were trapped, and authorities asked bystanders to keep quiet so they could hear any survivors.

Palma’s mayor, Jaime Martinez, reportedly visited the site along with his deputy mayor for tourism.

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

He said that the latest developments were being closely monitored and the government was ready to send all necessary assistance.

Balearic Islands President Margareto Progens said she was shocked by the incident and offered her condolences to the victims’ families.

Progens expressed his gratitude to emergency personnel and Sanchez for their assistance.

Mallorca is the largest of Spain’s Balearic islands in the Mediterranean Sea.

More than 17 million people visited the island last year.