The roof of a restaurant on Mallorca, a popular Spanish tourist island, collapsed on Thursday, killing four people and injuring 21 others.
Emergency services reported that victims included people of various nationalities. Seven of the injured are in critical condition, and nine others are seriously hurt, with different hospitals treating them.
The collapse happened in the Playa de Palma area, south of Palma de Mallorca, the island’s capital. Firefighters and ambulances quickly arrived, and police sealed off the street for rescue operations. Rescuers continued searching for more people trapped under the rubble.
The cause of the collapse remains unknown. A firefighter described the scene as “nightmarish,” with people crying and screaming around the rubble.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed condolences to the victims’ families and offered central government support.
He spoke with the president of the Balearic Islands and the city’s mayor. Balearic Islands President Marga Prohens shared her shock and extended sympathies to the families of the deceased.
Mallorca, known for its beautiful waters and beaches, is a top tourist destination. Over 14 million tourists visited the Balearic Islands last year.
The collapse occurred at the start of the high tourist season, on a busy beachfront avenue with many shops and entertainment venues.
In 2009, a similar incident in Palma de Mallorca resulted in seven deaths, including two Germans and three Colombians.
