The public prosecutor of Marseille reported that an explosion occurred at around 1am on Sunday, followed by the collapse of a building located at 17 rue de Tivoli. Delicate rescue operations are ongoing, with firefighters working hard to find victims following the collapse of a four-storey apartment building in the Marseille city center. Two lifeless bodies have been found, and at least six people remain missing. There were no children among the victims. The building located in a residential area carries a part of buildings at 15 and 19 rue de Tivoli, according to the Mayor of Marseille. The searches are expected to last several days, with nearly 90 firefighters and two dogs mobilized. The cause of the disaster is still unknown, but an explosion due to gas is one of the possible hypotheses, although it has not been confirmed. 200 residents were evacuated as a precaution. An emergency number and a family reception center have been set up for those directly affected by the incident.
An explosion “of extreme violence”, was heard around one o’clock in the morning on Sunday, according to the public prosecutor of Marseille, a few seconds before the collapse of the building located at 17 rue de Tivoli.
Delicate rescue operations, which will last several days. The firefighters are still hard at work, Monday April 10, to find the victims following the collapse of a four-storey apartment building in the center of Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône), on the night of Saturday to Sunday. “Two lifeless bodies” were discovered in the rubble, firefighters said Monday around 1 a.m. The search continues, while at least six people remain missing. Franceinfo takes stock of what we know regarding the disaster.
An explosion followed by the collapse of a building
It is 12:46 a.m. Sunday when an explosion “extremely violent” according to the public prosecutor of Marseille Dominique Laurens, filmed by surveillance cameras, takes place at 17 rue de Tivoli, in an area known for its cafes, restaurants and nightlife. A minute later, the building suddenly collapses.
In its fall, the four-storey building, located in a residential area on the edge of the La Plaine district, carries “a part of [bâtiments du] 15 et du 19 rue de Tivoli”, said the mayor of Marseille overnight. A few hours later, in the early morning, the building at 15 rue de Tivoli also collapsed. The Marseille prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation for “involuntary injuries”.
Two bodies found in the rubble
“Two lifeless bodies” were discovered in the rubble, firefighters announced overnight from Sunday to Monday, of the eight people missing. But “taking into account the particular difficulties of intervention, the extraction [des corps] will take time”. “Tonight the sorrow and the pain are great”reacted the mayor of Marseille, Benoît Payan, on site to coordinate the operations.
“In the building [du 17 rue de Tivoli]we have more people of a certain age and a young couple”, explained on Sunday the public prosecutor of Marseille, Dominique Laurens. According to “elements (…) transmitted by relatives and families”there is “no children among the victims”she added.
Another person is also wanted, the magistrate reported. “An information [qui n’est] not confirmed” for the moment, “but a lady has no news of her ex-husband who lived on the level of 19“, she detailed.
In addition, five people, residents of nearby buildings on 17, were injured, but “none is between life and death”the Minister of the Interior announced on Sunday.
The research “will last several days”
Until mid-followingnoon on Sunday, the searches, in particular the dog teams and their dogs, were impossible because of a major fire still in progress under the rubble. They were finally able to start at the end of the followingnoon, according to the franceinfo journalist present on the spot, Jean Chamoulaud. THE “operations will last several days”said the commander of the rescue operations carried out by the battalion of marine firefighters from Marseille, to France 3 Paca.
“We continue to do everything to carry out the relief operations”, declared the mayor of Marseille, on the night of Sunday to Monday, following the discovery of the first two bodies. “All the services of the City, accompanied by the services of the State, are still, at this very moment, fully committed to continuing the research”. The hope of finding people alive is “petit”had however recognized Benoît Payan on Sunday.
“The work is progressing very safely so as not to endanger the emergency services.”explained the prosecutor. “As they remove the rubble, we see the smoke leave, we see that there are still hot pockets”, she explained. Nearly 90 firefighters and two dogs were mobilized overnight from Sunday to Monday.
Gas, a possible hypothesis, but not confirmed
For now, “it is not yet possible” to determine the causes of the disaster, assured the public prosecutor of Marseille, Dominique Laurens. An explosion “extremely violent” due to gas “is part of the tracks, but as it is, we cannot say”she pointed out.
However, one hypothesis seems to be ruled out: that of the unsanitary condition of the building. “These buildings are not targeted by danger orders, they are not unsanitary so we are looking for the causes of this explosion“, she continued, thus confirming the information communicated by thee mayor, the prefect and the Minister of the Interior earlier in the day.
200 people evacuated as a precaution
In all, 33 buildings were evacuated and 200 residents were taken care of overnight from Saturday to Sunday, said on BFMTV, the mayor of the city, Benoît Payan. Among them, “150 people have found the means to relocate with families or friends.” In addition, 50 people requested emergency rehousing.
An emergency number (04 91 55 11 11) has been set up “for those directly concerned” by the collapse. A family reception center was also opened at 110 boulevard de la Liberation, in the 4th arrondissement. Closed Sunday evening, it will reopen Monday morning at 7:30 a.m., said the prosecutor.
The tragedy of the collapse of the building at 17 rue de Tivoli in Marseille has caused shock and grief in France. As rescue operations continue, at least six people remain missing and hope of finding survivors is fading. Two bodies have already been recovered from the rubble, and the search for other victims is expected to last several days. Despite speculation regarding the possibility of a gas explosion, the cause of the disaster remains unclear. Our thoughts go out to the families and loved ones of those affected by this terrible event.
