The mayor of Marseille has confirmed that two bodies have been found in the rubble of two residential buildings that collapsed following an explosion. At least six people are still missing, and authorities have said that there are “particular difficulties” in searching for them. The cause of the explosion is still unknown, and an investigation has been opened. A gas explosion is among the potential causes being considered. The collapse occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning in an old quarter of the city, less than a kilometre from its old port. Around 200 people have been evacuated from their homes in the area.
Mayor Benoit Payan tweeted his condolences to the families of the victims and those who are suffering. He also confirmed that more than 100 firefighters are continuing to search for survivors. The burning debris was too hot for dogs in the firefighters’ canine team to work until Sunday afternoon, and smoke still bothered them, a prosecutor said.
This is not the first time that buildings have collapsed in Marseille. In 2018, two buildings in the centre of the city collapsed, killing eight people. That disaster highlighted the poor housing standards in Marseille, with aid groups claiming that 40,000 people were living in shoddy structures. However, authorities have ruled out structural issues in this latest collapse. Christophe Mirmand, prefect of the Bouches-du-Rhone region, said that there was no danger notice for the building and it was not in a neighbourhood identified as having substandard housing.
The search for survivors continues, and authorities are urging people to stay away from the area while rescue operations are ongoing. The pain and sorrow felt by the families of the victims and those affected by this tragedy is great, and our thoughts are with them during this difficult time.