Investigators on the Spanish island of Mallorca are looking into whether overloading and excess weight caused the collapse of a beachfront restaurant and club, killing four people and injuring 16 others.
The two-storey Medusa Beach Club in Palma de Mallorca collapsed at about 8.30pm local time (7.30pm BST) on Thursday night, killing at least four people and leaving many others trapped in the rubble. One firefighter told the local newspaper Última Hora he had arrived to find a “nightmarish” scene, with people screaming and crying and rubble piled high on the ground floor.
The island’s emergency services later confirmed the four deaths, adding that 16 people had been taken to hospital. Seven of them were in a critical condition and nine others were seriously injured.
On Friday, Spain’s Policía Nacional said those who had lost their lives were a 23-year-old female Spanish worker, two female German tourists in their 20s, and a Senegalese man aged 44.
As Palma’s council declared three days of mourning, experts said they were trying to determine the cause of the accident.
“The causes are being investigated and the main hypothesis is possible excess weight,” said Eder García, Palma’s chief firefighter.
A police spokesperson added: “The terrace has come down, probably due to excessive weight.”
Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, said he was closely monitoring the “consequences of the awful collapse that’s happened on a Palma beach” and promised to send any necessary help and resources to the region. He added: “I want to send my condolences to the relatives of the people who have died and my wishes for a swift recovery to those who were injured.”
Marga Prohens, the president of the Balearic islands regional government, said she was shocked to hear of the accident.
“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,” she posted on X on Thursday night. “Thanks to all the emergency services that have moved to the scene and continue to work there.”
Palma de Mallorca is a popular tourist resort and is the capital of the western Mediterranean island. May is the beginning of the tourist season in the area. Mallorca is one of Spain’s Balearic islands, which more than 14 million tourists visited last year, according to official figures.
The UK Foreign Office confirmed there were no reports of British nationals being involved in the incident.
A spokesperson said: “We are aware of an incident in Palma, and there are currently no reports of British nationals having been involved. We remain in contact with the Spanish authorities.”