A building in the center of Marseille suffered a collapse on Sunday due to an explosion whose causes are unknown. At least eight people are missing, and five have been injured, French authorities said. Marseille Mayor Benoît Payan warned that “we have to be prepared for casualties in this terrible tragedy.” The collapse of the four-story building occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning, and police fear that people are trapped under the rubble.
Marseille prosecutor Dominique Laurens said the causes of the explosion are not yet clear but that “gas is evidently one of the leads” being considered. Since early Sunday morning, firefighters have been trying to put out the blaze that is preventing rescuers and sniffer dogs from searching for the missing. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his “emotion” over the tragic event.
The collapse of two buildings on Rue Aubagne, also in the center of Marseille, in November 2018 left eight dead. These buildings were in a serious state of unhealthiness. It is not known if the cause of this latest collapse is related to similar infrastructure problems. The event has sent shockwaves through Marseille and throughout France and has once again brought the quality of construction and the need to maintain strict regulation in this sector back to the center of the debate. Rescue efforts are continuing, and police and firefighters are expected to provide more information in the coming days on the causes of the explosion and the number of victims.