An 18-year-old man dies when a house collapses in Manacor

PalmAn 18-year-old man died early this morning in Manacor After the ceiling of a bedroom collapsed in a house where he and his 12-year-old brother were sleeping, the two brothers were trapped under the rubble, according to the Emergency Medical Service (SAMU 061). Two other people, the boys' parents, were also in the house at the time, but they were unharmed as their bedroom was in another part of the house. The incident occurred around 5:12 a.m. this morning on Sant Francesc Street, when a report of a building collapse was received. When firefighters arrived at the scene, they found the back of the house completely collapsed and proceeded to rescue the two boys from the room where the debris had fallen.

According to what they specified Mallorca FirefightersThe incident involved the collapse of the ceiling in a room of a three-story building (ground floor plus two upper floors). The upper floor slab, which was part of a flat roof, fell onto the floor below and subsequently affected another room in the house. Two brothers were sleeping on a stretcher in that room. The 12-year-old boy was seriously injured upstairs, and the deceased victim was on the stretcher below. According to the Island Director of Emergencies, Joan Fornàs, firefighters had to rescue the two brothers from under a meter of rubble. While firefighters were inside the house attempting to rescue the boys, a second collapse occurred, injuring a firefighter. Fornàs explained that the man suffered several rib injuries and also had to be treated by medical personnel at the scene. However, the firefighter is safe.

By the time emergency teams rescued the 18-year-old, he had already died. The 12-year-old was treated at the scene and taken to Son Espases University Hospital (HUSE) in an Advanced Life Support ambulance. SAMU 061The polytrauma protocol was activated. The child's condition is serious. The injured minor was admitted to the Pediatric Emergency Department at Son Espases Hospital. He has since been transferred to the Intensive Care Unit, but his condition is stable and he is under observation. Two Advanced Life Support units, one Basic Life Support unit, and a Rapid Intervention Vehicle (RIV), along with the on-duty supervisor, were dispatched to the scene. A team of psychologists from the 112 emergency service also went to the house to offer emotional support to the family. Although the investigation is still in its initial stages, the firefighters' first hypothesis is that the collapse was caused by the age of the house. Xisco Bonnín, Chief Officer of the Mallorca Fire Department, has confirmed with certainty that the collapse was "purely a structural issue; there was no explosion or any other trigger." Bonnín emphasized that the house is currently "completely inaccessible" and that they are working to secure it in order to carry out "a more thorough study and investigation." Furthermore, initial investigations by the fire department and the police indicate that roof repairs had been carried out in recent months, but it is still unknown whether this contributed to the collapse. Regarding the neighboring houses, the chief officer of the Mallorca Fire Department explained that one is not in danger, as the collapse occurred on the side furthest from this property, and the other is awaiting a thorough inspection. He stated that their current concern is the condition of the shared wall, but clarified that "initially it appears that it has not been affected either." However, the house was evacuated pending confirmation from the technicians that there is no danger.

Manacor expresses its condolences and calls for a minute of silence

For his part, theManacor City Council The City Council has expressed its condolences to the family of the young man killed and the child injured in the collapse. The Council conveyed its support to the affected family during this time of "immense sorrow," as well as to their loved ones and the neighborhood where the incident occurred. Hours after the incident, the Manacor City Council held a minute of silence at 12:00 noon in front of the City Hall as a sign of mourning. Flags are also flying at half-mast as a sign of respect and solidarity with the affected family. Municipal urban planning technicians have already begun the necessary work to assess the condition of the building and determine the causes of the tragic event. The Mayor of Manacor, Miquel Oliver, visited the site to closely monitor the situation and personally express his condolences to the family.

The President of the Government of the Balearic Islands, Marga Prohens, also lamented the death of the young man from Manacor and conveyed her condolences to the family through a message on her social media profile.

The leader of the regional government explained that she has already contacted the mayor of the town, Miquel Oliver, to whom she conveyed the support of the Government, and added that she is closely following the progress of the other victim, the 12-year-old boy who remains hospitalized in Son Espases.