4 dead including 2 tourists & 16 hurt after new rooftop bar collapsed at Medusa Beach Club in Majorca a day after revamp
AT least four people have died and 16 were injured following the collapse of a beach club in Majorca last night.
Officials today revealed that two female German tourists, aged 20 and 30, a Senegalese man, 44, and a fourth female victim, 23, were killed.
The terrace of the Medusa Beach Club in Playa de Palma caved in at around 8.30pm on Thursday night as neighbours heard screams and watched in horror as victims were crushed.
Nine people are seriously injured and seven people are in critical condition after what cops say was likely caused by an overload of people on the first floor.
Abdoulaye Diop, 44, a Senegalese migrant living in Majorca, was the first of those who died last night to have been named.
He had been working as a nightclub doorman in the area who made headlines on the island in 2017 by saving a man who was drowning.
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He is thought to have stopped off at Medusa Beach Club, on the beachfront promenade, after leaving the gym.
The fourth victim is a 23-year-old female Spanish worker.
It has now emerged nine survivors being treated in hospital are Dutch, the nationalities of the others are unknown.
Locals have now sent out an urgent warning saying more disasters could soon happen as many venues "aren't designed for tourists".
Alain Carbonell, president of the S’Arenal Neigbourhood’s Residents Association in Majorca said: “There have been two previous instances of collapses at buildings in other parts of this area.
“This was completely foreseeable and the worst thing about it is that it will happen again. We are afraid it will occur again."
Witnesses have spoken of their terror as they watched the bar collapse into the street as if a "bomb" had exploded and grisly footage emerged showing the immediate aftermath.
People are filmed screaming, crying and fleeing, while a body lies lifeless on the pavement.
Just one day before the floor caved in, the popular night spot unveiled a new terrace bar.
It posted a picture of the renovation on Instagram, with the caption: "Totally different, New rooftop."
Local media reported that people were dancing on the terrace before it collapsed, although this has not yet been verified by officials.
Last night, some 100 rescue workers ploughed through the night to search for anyone trapped beneath the rubble in what they described as a "nightmarish" scene.
Emergency services could be heard asking people to keep quiet as they listened for sounds of anyone trapped.
Palma’s Deputy Mayor Javier Bonet said this morning: “We can now rule out the possibility there could be more victims.
“This morning around 2.30am firefighters finished the job of clearing all the rubble and concluded the rescue operation."
Three days of mourning have now been declared for the victims.
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Santiago Aranda, who was walking his dog at the time of the collapse, told La Linterna: "I don't have words to describe it.
"It was an explosion, and we were in the street opposite...some ran in the opposite direction and others towards the dust".
Raul, an employee from the shop next door, told CadenaSER: "Everything fell, completely. It was very loud and there were a lot of people inside.
Aranda, who was with his wife at the time, said he stayed to help "get people out" amid "screams, wailing and crying".
Eder Garcia, head of the Palma Fire Brigade, said from the scene overnight: “We received the first call around 8pm.
“The first floor terrace has collapsed, probably due to excess weight although it’s still under investigation, and it’s impacted on an arch below which has also come down and affected the basement where there was a table football table and there were people eating.”
Heartbreaking pictures showed dozens of people comforting each other on the road as they waited for news.
Psychologists were also called to the scene to help those suffering from the trauma of the collapse.
Several bystanders tried to enter the wreckage amid fears that their loved ones were trapped inside.
Responding to the tragedy, President of the Balearic Islands Marga Prohens wrote on X: "Shocked by the information I received about the collapse of Platja de Palma.
"Sending all my affection and warmth to the families of the four people who lost their lives in this tragic incident and wishing the recovery of all the injured.
"Thanks to all the emergency services that have been dispatched to the scene and continue to work there."
President Pedro Sanchez added: "I am closely following the consequences of the terrible landslide that occurred on the beach of Palma.
"I want to send my condolences to the families of the deceased and my wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured."
The Medusa Beach Club is located just metres from Cullera beach in Playa de Palma, a beach resort east of the capital, popular with tourists.
Around 3.2 million Brits travel to Majorca each year.
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Thursday's collapse took place at the start of the archipelago's high tourist season.
In 2009, a collapse of a three-story building in Palma de Mallorca killed seven people, including two Germans and three Colombians.