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A devastating collapse of a 10-storey hotel in Argentina has resulted in one confirmed death and numerous individuals trapped beneath the rubble. Rescue efforts are underway, with emergency crews racing against time to reach those who may still be alive, while officials begin to examine the structural integrity of the building.
Firefighters conducting search and rescue operations at the site of the collapsed Dubrovnik Hotel in Villa Gesell, located 350 kilometers south of Buenos Aires, successfully freed a woman from the rubble. As rescuers remain vigilant, the city is uniting in support of those affected, hoping for more positive outcomes in the wake of this tragedy.
Local authorities stated that the building collapsed during the early hours of Tuesday, October 29, leading to a chaotic scene as first responders rushed to provide assistance. Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the collapse and to assess any potential risks to nearby structures.
Reports suggest that among the individuals feared trapped in the rubble are construction workers who may have been working without the appropriate municipal permits at the Dubrovnik Hotel. This alarming detail has sparked outrage and concern over the enforcement of building regulations in the area.
Local newspaper Pagina 12 reported that firefighters successfully rescued an elderly woman alive from the wreckage, but an 80-year-old man has tragically died.
Provincial security minister Javier Alonso confirmed these developments, emphasizing the dedication of rescue personnel as they work to find additional survivors in the aftermath of the collapse.
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Mr Alonso was quoted as saying that there were no guests in the hotel, but there were workers staying in another part of the building, which was built in 1986.
More than 300 firefighters, police and other rescue officials were at the scene, in a rescue operation already ongoing for more than eight hours, online outlet Infobae reported, citing the city’s mayor Gustavo Barrera as warning that the adjacent building is also at risk of collapse.
Local officials alleged on Tuesday, Oct. 29, that they had detected and halted unauthorised construction work that was being carried out inside the building without proper clearance back in August.
A prosecutor has opened an investigation to determine the cause of the collapse, but Villa Gesell’s municipality said in a press release that the hotel was undergoing a renovation without the proper permits.
Infobae cited Mr Alonso as saying that the courts had ordered the arrest of four people in connection with the hotel’s collapse.
