Four dead in Mallorca after “nightmarish” building collapse | Spain

Investigators on the Spanish island of Mallorca are looking into whether overloading and excess weight were the cause of the collapse of a beach restaurant and club, in which four people died and 16 others were injured.

The two-storey Medusa Beach Club in Palma de Mallorca collapsed on Thursday evening at around 8:30 p.m. local time (7:30 p.m. CET). At least four people were killed and many more were trapped in the rubble. A firefighter told local newspaper Última Hora that when he arrived he found 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 hospitalized, with seven of them in critical condition and nine others seriously injured.

On Friday, the Spanish National Police announced that the fatalities were a 23-year-old Spanish worker, two German tourists in their twenties and a 44-year-old Senegalese man.

While the city council of Palma 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 obesity,” said Eder García, Palma’s fire chief.

A police spokesman added: “The terrace collapsed, probably due to the excessive weight.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he was closely monitoring the “consequences of the terrible collapse on a beach in Palma” and promised to provide the region with all the necessary help and resources. He added: “I would like to express my condolences to the families of the victims and wish the injured a speedy recovery.”

Marga Prohens, president of the Balearic Islands regional government, said she was shocked to hear about the accident.

“I send all my affection and warmth to the families of the four people who lost their lives in this tragic incident and wish all those injured a speedy recovery,” she posted on X on Thursday evening. “Thank you to all the rescue workers who are on site and continue to work there.”

Palma de Mallorca is a popular tourist resort and the capital of the western Mediterranean island. The tourist season begins in the region in May. Mallorca is one of the Spanish Balearic Islands, which, according to official figures, were visited by more than 14 million tourists last year.

The British Foreign Office confirmed that there were no reports of British nationals being involved in the incident.

A spokesman said: “We are aware of an incident in Palma and there are currently no reports that British nationals were involved. We remain in contact with the Spanish authorities.”