Sure! Let’s dive into this rather alarming situation with a blend of wit and concern—after all, we’ve got to keep our spirits up even when buildings come tumbling down like they’re auditioning for a role in a disaster movie!
Tragic Collapse in Villa Gesell: A Structural Shock!
Early this Tuesday, a ten-story building had a quite literal fall from grace in Villa Gesell, Buenos Aires. And when I say fall, I don’t mean it got a bad review on TripAdvisor! We’re talking about the Apart Hotel Dubrovnik turning into a jumble of rubble faster than you can say, “I think the elevator’s broken!”
Now, the local mayor, Gustavo Barreras, is on the scene sounding like the world’s saddest tour guide: “We are committed to the rescue,” he says. Yes, because that’s the kind of thing you want to hear as you’re looking for seven to nine missing people—like trying to find your phone under a pile of laundry, but way worse!
Firefighters are hard at work, crawling through the debris and taking the whole ‘finding a needle in a haystack’ thing to a completely new level! According to the official reports, around 80% of the building decided it was high time to push up daisies. You’d think structures would get the memo that they should aim to stay upright!
The Collapse: A Perfect Storm of Bad Timing and Dodgy Permits?
What we do know is this: the building had all the necessary approvals for an elevator. So let’s just say that the “bottom fell out” before anyone had a chance to go up. Quite a plot twist! The municipality assured everyone that the structure should have been as safe as grandma’s favorite rocking chair. Still, it seems some renovations were done illegally and irregularly. Fancy that, the construction equivalent of sneaking out of class!
And here I was thinking all those “Do Not Disturb” signs meant it was just a quiet night. Turns out, this whole building was an unlicensed demolition in the making! Ah, the building began construction in 1986. Goodness, that’s relatively vintage. One could almost hear the ghost of the architect sighing, “What went wrong?”
Voices from the Chaos
Witnesses described feeling a vibration before the building fell. That’s just brilliant! It’s not every day you feel your whole world rumble beneath your feet, right? One eyewitness said, “I saw two people at the scene.” Two people? In the middle of a disaster? Sounds like a plot twist that only the creators of “Lost” could dream up.
The Rescuers: A Hundred Soldiers in the War on Rubble
Around a hundred firefighters are gathering around the wreckage like it’s a new social media trend. Fire departments from nearby cities—Madariaga, Pinamar, and the Atlantic Coast—have also chimed in, bringing their heavy lifting skills to the grim party. It’s basically a firefighter’s convention, but with more dust and fewer muffins.
What’s Next?
While officials are trying to figure out why this colossal construct of concrete decided to become confetti, the Mayor has confirmed that the property was closed at the time. Which is a relief? I mean, we’re all about avoiding unnecessary casualties here, unless you’re talking about ratings—then bring it on!
No word yet on whether the hotel authorities have responded because really, who wants to be the messenger of bad news? Picture it: “Hello, we hear your place just had a minor collapse. The cleanup crew’s going to need more than just a broom and dustpan on this one!”
In conclusion, as this story unfolds, we hope that the missing persons are found and that the authorities get to the bottom of what might have gone awry. And just a gentle reminder to all builders out there: always make sure your support systems are, well, supported!
That’s right, folks! Sometimes, all you can do is laugh—unless you’re standing beneath a building that’s decided to flip onto its side!
In a tragic incident that unfolded early Tuesday morning, a ten-story building known as the Apart Hotel Dubrovnik collapsed in the bustling Buenos Aires city of Villa Gesell, impacting a nearby residential property as well. Rescue operations are currently underway, with firefighters meticulously searching through the rubble for potential survivors. Local authorities report that there may be between seven and nine individuals unaccounted for following the collapse, as confirmed by Villa Gesell’s mayor, Gustavo Barreras, who emphasized, “We are fully committed to the rescue efforts.”
The calamity struck around 00:30 hours, affecting the building located at the intersection of Avenue 1 and Buenos Aires Avenue. Municipal official Barreras noted, “The building had approved plans and the necessary permits for an elevator installation at the front of the property. The collapse involved the lower levels, with a tower consisting of about ten floors collapsing entirely.” He further explained that the structural failure not only affected the hotel but also had repercussions for a neighboring home, suggesting that some of the missing individuals could be residents of that adjacent building.
Authorities currently lack definitive evidence that guests were present in the hotel during the incident. “We estimate there could be around six or seven individuals missing from the hotel, along with two or three residents from the neighboring structure,” Mayor Barreras added. He confirmed that he is in close communication with provincial officials, including the Minister of Health and the Buenos Aires Minister of Security, Javier Alonso, who is on-site to monitor the situation.
Hugo Piriz, the head of the emergency response operation, revealed that rescue teams are actively searching for eight to nine individuals believed to be trapped on the first three floors of the hotel. “Approximately 80% of the building has collapsed,” he stated. Initial images capturing the disaster depicted the main tower completely leveled. As of now, rescuers have not successfully extracted anyone from the debris.
“The rescuers had contact with a woman who claims she is with another trapped individual, and they are working diligently to rescue them. Although there is a significant amount of debris, we have pinpointed their location,” Piriz communicated to LN+. He indicated that the rescue teams periodically pause their efforts in hopes of receiving any ‘sound signals’ from those trapped beneath the rubble. “The task is highly challenging, and we will require a substantial number of firefighters throughout the day to continue our operations,” he added.
A witness on the scene recounted the harrowing moment, stating that they felt “a vibration throughout the building” prior to its catastrophic fall. This individual reported to C5N that they witnessed two people at the disaster site.
Around 100 firefighters are presently engaged in the search for missing individuals. Personnel from neighboring cities such as Madariaga, Pinamar, and the Atlantic Coast have joined forces with the firefighting and emergency services in Villa Gesell, bolstering the rescue efforts.
“Mobile units 3 and 4 are en route from central stations to Villa Gesell to assist the local fire department,” reported the Pinamar Volunteer Firefighters on their X account. The specific reasons leading to the building’s collapse remain unknown at this time. “I am facing this unprecedented experience as mayor for the first time,” stated Barreras, noting that the hotel had been closed at the time of the disaster.
THE NATION attempted to contact hotel officials without success. According to information on the property’s website, the Apart Hotel Dubrovnik was established in 1986 and was designed in a ship-like shape, reminiscent of the vessels that carried Croatian immigrants to this continent long ago. The establishment derives its name from a town in southern Croatia.
The municipality of Villa Gesell revealed that on August 20, they discovered unauthorized construction activities underway at the property, resulting in a halt to the work due to lack of municipal approval. The report indicated that the owners had requested limited authorization for specific tasks, including carpentry changes and interior remodeling. It was clarified that while certain alterations were permitted, any structural modifications to the upper floors had not received approval.
The owners subsequently submitted a technical report regarding preparatory tasks related to an elevator they planned to install, as well as a request for formal authorization for this project. The municipality responded by communicating the necessity of presenting complete documentation for the intended elevator project by October 15 of this month. “Although we are currently unable to provide precise details regarding the collapse, it can be stated that the section that fell (the rear part) had undergone illegal modifications,” emphasized the municipality.
News in development
