Four bodies from a collapsed building in a tourist area of Madrid, which was due to reopen as a four-star hotel, have been confirmed by Spanish authorities. The six-storey former office block partly collapsed just before 1pm yesterday, leaving three people injured and sparking a desperate search for several people reported missing after the drama.
The two people unaccounted for were found dead in the early hours of this morning following the discovery of the two other bodies just before midnight. One of those killed was a 30-year-old female architect named only as Laura, and the other three male construction workers were from Mali, Guinea and Ecuador. Madrid mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida said on X early this morning, following news that two bodies had been discovered: “With deep sadness, we can confirm city firefighters have rescued the lifeless bodies of the two people that were still missing following the collapse in Hileras Street.
“All our affection and support for the victims’ families, friends and colleagues at this very difficult moment for them,” he added.
The 60-year-old building that collapsed, said to be owned by a Saudi Arabian multi-millionaire named locally as Rashid Saad Al Rashid, was being transformed into a luxury hotel with a ground-floor restaurant.
It lies in the heart of one of Madrid’s most popular tourist areas, a five-minute walk from La Puerta del Sol, the city’s most famous and central square.
Construction work had begun in June. A police investigation has been launched.
A worker who cheated death told Spanish media: “I’m alive only because I left to eat something.
“As I came round the corner the whole building collapsed. I saw how the sun disappeared.”
Around 40 people were thought to have been inside the building at the time. Firefighters and police with sniffer dogs took part in the search for the bodies, while other police with drones assisted from outside.
Mr Martinez-Almeida cut short an official visit to London to visit the scene of the tragedy last night.
