The building collapse occurred in Saviano, Italy. The incident took place early on Sunday, September 22, 2024, when most of the residents in the building were likely indoors. The collapse resulted in destruction, burying several people under the rubble including a mother, her three children and the children’s grandmother.
Also Read: Iran Coal Mine Blast News: Explosion Kills At Least 51 Workers
Two young siblings, a 6-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl lost their lives in the collapse. Their bodies were recovered by rescuers soon after the incident.
The children’s mother was also found dead a few hours later. A 2-year-old brother of the deceased children was found alive and rescued from the debris.
The children’s father was also rescued but was in a serious condition, requiring urgent hospitalization in Naples. He remains in critical condition as doctors continue to monitor his health.
The grandmother of the children is believed to still be trapped under the rubble with rescuers working to locate her.
The local fire department and media reports have indicated that the most likely cause of the building’s collapse was a gas explosion. The explosion is thought to have occurred on the second floor of the building, which triggered the structure to collapse and bury the ground floor beneath rubble.
Local authorities and fire department officials addressed that investigations are still ongoing to confirm the exact cause.
Initial reports suggest that a gas leak led to a powerful explosion on the second floor of the building, which is thought to have caused the entire structure to collapse in on itself.
A resident compared the sound to a plane breaking the sound barrier. Investigators are still working to determine the exact cause of the explosion, but early indications strongly point to a gas leak as the culprit.
The building was described by Saviano’s mayor, Vincenzo Simonelli, as having crumpled up on itself. It was a two-story structure with the family living on one floor and the grandmother residing on the floor above.
The explosion is believed to have occurred on the second floor causing the building to collapse, covering the lower floor with debris.
Rescuers including firefighters and local authorities responded to the scene, carefully sifting through the rubble to prevent collapses.
According to Luca Cari, a spokesperson for Italy’s fire department, the rescue workers had to proceed slowly and cautiously to avoid triggering additional structural failures.
Also Read: Alabama Shooting News: 4 Dead, 18 Injured in Birmingham Mass Shooting
Sniffer dogs were employed to aid in locating survivors and victims trapped under the rubble. By mid-morning, the bodies of the two children had been recovered and the rescue workers found their father and infant brother alive.
It took several more hours of painstaking work before rescuers located the mother’s body around 16:45 in the afternoon.
The search for the grandmother continued into the night. By 01:00, rescue teams announced they had found her body and the search efforts were concluded.
Over 60 civil protection volunteers were involved in the rescue operations alongside firefighters and medical teams. Rescue efforts continued throughout the day and into the night as officials tried to locate and save any remaining individuals trapped under the debris.
Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the collapse. Although it is believed that a gas explosion triggered the disaster, officials are conducting a thorough investigation to confirm these findings.
The search for the missing grandmother continues, though hopes of finding her alive are dwindling due to the amount of time that has passed and the severity of the collapse.
Rescue workers have remained steadfast in their efforts, deploying advanced equipment and specialized teams to comb through the rubble and ensure that no one is left behind.
Search dogs and thermal imaging equipment have been utilized to detect signs of life, but as of the recent updates, the grandmother remains missing.
Also Read: Anura Kumara Dissanayake Elected as Sri Lanka’s President 2024
