Advisory Office for Disaster Risk Management (Oagrd).
Fernando Abello, director of the Oagrd, explained that together with the analysis carried out by the engineers, the company of the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Department of Transit and Transportation (DATT) and brigades of Public Space was requested, with the aim of controlling the flow of vehicles and pedestrians in the area due to the possibility of debris falling from the collapsed balcony.
“On balance we found that fortunately there were no people in the lobby or on the sidewalk at the time of the fall, the material gained a lot of speed falling from the 21st floor, causing considerable damage to the floor below. We have requested the administration of the building to review all the balconies of the building, as a preventive measure to verify that there is no more exposure of material to salt and wind and to avoid events similar to the one that occurred today,” he said.
The Oagrd asked Cartagena to take special care with the infrastructure of their homes. “In times of rain, and with the inclemency of the elements at sea level, the wear of materials is more accelerated and therefore, special attention is required on roofs, windows, walls and in tall buildings, windows and balcony walls,” he said.
