With inputs from ANI.
In a tragic incident, one person was killed and nine went missing after a 10-storey hotel under renovation collapsed in Argentina, CNN reported on Tuesday, citing local authorities. As per reports, Dubrovnik hotel in Villa Gessell, located about 370 kilometres from capital Buenos Aires on the Atlantic coast, fell early Tuesday morning (local time). Emergency responders, including firefighters, paramedics, and police carried rescue operation and are working to clear debris to locate survivors and people trapped beneath rubble.
The deceased has been identified as an 80-year-old man from a neighbouring building, as stated by Javier Alonso, the minister of security for the province of Buenos Aires. He added that his partner was rescued, but it is unclear if their son was present at the time of the collapse.
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CNN quoted an official who said that the missing individuals include construction workers who were reportedly working “clandestinely, without complying with municipal regulations.
Due to the collapse of the hotel, surrounding buildings have also suffered significant damage. It’s reported that debris are causing extensive harm to nearby properties. In the video footage, piles of rubble and twisted metal, with a floor of the hotel, can be seen onto the level below.
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The hotel, which suffered damage was opened in 1986, and was undergoing various renovations. Authorities noted that work had been previously ‘detected and halted’ in August due to a lack of proper permits.
Rescue Operation Underway
Argentina’s National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich took cognisance of the incident and took to X to inform about rescue operation. She said specialised teams from the Federal Police, including structural engineers and a canine unit, are being deployed to the site. She wrote, “Coordinated by SINAGIR, we are mobilizing two specialized teams from the PFA to Villa Gesell to respond to the emergency caused by the collapse of a building. The first team includes structural engineers, rescue specialists (USAR), operations and incident command system personnel, HAZMAT and a canine team trained in collapsed structures. The second team travels in a minibus and a fire truck with 19 personnel to provide logistical and operational support. Both depart from the Federal Aviation Corps on Marchi Island, equipped with specific machinery and resources for the operation.”
Coordinados por el SINAGIR, estamos movilizando dos equipos especializados de la PFA hacia Villa Gesell para atender la emergencia del derrumbe de un edificio.
El primer equipo incluye ingenieros estructurales, especialistas en rescate (USAR), personal de operaciones y sistema…
— Patricia Bullrich (@PatoBullrich) October 29, 2024
