Four people have died after a six-storey building which was being refurbished partially collapsed in the centre of the Spanish capital, Madrid.
The city's mayor, Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida, confirmed that the bodies of the last two of the individuals reported missing were recovered on Wednesday morning, nearly 15 hours after the tragic event occurred.
Local media highlighted that the victims included a 30-year-old Spanish woman managing the renovation project, alongside three male workers from Mali, Guinea, and Ecuador aged between 30 and 50 years. Additionally, three other individuals sustained injuries.
The building, previously an office block, was in the process of being converted into a hotel when the incident happened. An investigation has been launched by authorities to understand the cause of the collapse.
The emergency services mobilized several crews equipped with drones and sniffer dogs to search for persons trapped in the wreckage. Two bodies were recovered on Tuesday night amidst the rubble.
Mayor Martinez-Almeida expressed his condolences to the families and friends of the victims through a post on social media platform X.
A construction worker at the site reported he was outside pumping concrete into the lower floors when he witnessed the building collapse, managing to escape after seeing a large cloud of dust rise.
Despite the severe internal damage, the façade of the building remained intact following the incident. According to the developer Rehbilita's website, the renovation was aimed at transforming the structure into a luxury four-star hotel.
As the search and rescue efforts continue, the community of Madrid mourns the loss of four lives and awaits further developments from the ongoing investigation.
